Native Seed Packets Available

 

Don’t Wait for Spring! Get a Head Start on Your Native Gardens

Looking for native seeds to spread in your local park? Partnerships for Parks has two types of seed packets available upon request, sunny pollinator mix and groundcover mix. By sowing your seeds in the winter months, you allow them to acclimate to local temperature shifts early in the season, ensuring they are hardy enough to reach full maturity. Getting started is simpler and more sustainable than you might think. Read on for some helpful tips!

The sunny pollinator mix is best for spreading in an open area or building out an existing pollinator garden, whereas the groundcover mix is best for a disturbed area where introduced species have been removed. Groundcover mix is designed to carpet the ground to help prevent the growth and re-establishment of weeds.

You don’t need specialized pots or trays; upcycling plastic containers like old milk jugs and strawberry packaging is a fantastic way to create mini-greenhouses. Simply fill your containers with a mixture of 75% soil and 25% compost. Once you’ve spread your seeds about an inch deep and lightly pat the soil, place them in a protected outdoor spot like a nook in the garden or building stoop. Nature will take it from there until the weather warms up.

Keep an eye on your containers once we have a week of 45–55°F temperatures or the last frost (typically around April 3-4). About 14 days after you see those first sprouts, your seedlings will be ready to move into their permanent homes in your garden or pollinator pocket. While some natives may seem to grow slowly at first, remember that they are busy building deep root networks that will eventually allow them to outcompete introduced species and thrive for years to come.

Reach out to your community engagement coordinator if you would like to request seed packets and we’ll work with you to come up with a seed sowing plan. 

Happy planting!

Native Plant Initiative Committee

For questions or concerns, contact your borough community engagement coordinator:

 

Robert Madera | Bronx Senior Community Engagement Coordinator

Community Boards: 4, 5, 7, 8

718.430.4667 | Robert.Madera@parks.nyc.gov

Ashley Santos | Bronx Community Engagement Coordinator
Community Boards: 1, 2, 3, 6
718.430.1861 | Ashley.Santos@parks.nyc.gov

Ashlyn Teather | Bronx Community Engagement Coordinator
Community Boards: 9, 10, 11, 12
718.430.1815 | Ashlyn.Teather@parks.nyc.gov

 Our mailing address is:

City Parks Foundation

830 5th Avenue

New York, NY 10065

DEC Proposes Changes to Coolwater Sportfish Regulations

 

Public Input Sought Through April 13, 2026

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced the release of proposed changes to coolwater sportfish regulations that will help protect fish while spawning, increase the reproductive capacity of walleye in Lake Ontario’s eastern basin, and eliminate unnecessary special regulations. 

“The proposed regulation changes for walleye, pike, pickerel, and tiger musky reflect DEC’s commitment to adaptively manage New York’s fisheries resources and to simplify regulations wherever possible,” said Commissioner Lefton. “We encourage the public to review the proposal and provide feedback.” 

Highlights of the proposed regulations include:

• Changing the closing date for walleye, northern pike, chain pickerel, and tiger musky from March 15 to March 1 for both statewide and special regulations; 
• Changing the start date of fishing-prohibited regulations to protect spawning walleye on sections of select streams from March 16 to March 2; 
• Eliminating unnecessary special harvest regulations for walleye in 33 waters; and 
• Changing the size limit and daily creel limit for walleye in Jefferson County waters of Lake Ontario to two fish per day with no more than one longer than 24 inches.

The proposed regulations are responsive to fisheries managers’ and anglers’ concerns that the current fishing season closing date may not adequately protect spawning walleye and northern pike into the future, as a warming climate changes water temperatures and shifts spawning times. Establishing an earlier fishing season closure will help ensure that spawning aggregations of these species are protected. 

There are also several walleye waters currently managed under special harvest regulation (18-inch minimum size limit, three-per-day possession limit) to help establish, restore, or improve walleye fisheries. A subset of those waters does not meet that objective and the draft regulations propose to convert back to statewide regulations and a 15-inch minimum size, five-per-day possession limit. 

In addition, the walleye fishery in Lake Ontario’s eastern basin (Jefferson County) has declined, and DEC is proposing a more protective harvest regulation intended to increase spawning stock biomass and increase the capacity for natural reproduction. 

The full text and a summary of the proposed regulatory changes are available on DEC’s website, https://dec.ny.gov/. 

DEC is interested in anglers’ viewpoints and encourages public feedback on these proposals. Comments will be accepted through April 13, 2026, and should be emailed to regulations.fish@dec.ny.gov with the subject line “Coolwater Sportfish Regulations,” or sent by standard mail to: 

Inland Fisheries Section

NYSDEC

625 Broadway

Albany, NY 12233-4753

Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

SENATOR RIVERA CELEBRATES NYSNA'S CONTRACT RATIFICATION

This week, Senator Rivera participated in the Legislative Public Hearing on the 2026 Executive Budget Proposals on Health and Medicaid.

During the first panel of the day, Senator Rivera questioned State Health Commissioner James McDonald and Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri about a series of issues including the lack of movement of the $1.4 billion allocated in last year's budget but have yet to be delivered to our healthcare providers. Senator Rivera also spoke about his concerns about the Executive's proposed reduction of Medical Indemnity Fund’s reimbursement rates, the ongoing challenges related to the CDPAP transition and the inexplicable saga of the Executive trying to transition School Based Health Centers' reimbursement model from fee-for-service to managed care.

Watch Senator Rivera's exchange with Commissioner McDonald and Medicaid Director Bassiri about the $1.4 billion undelivered funds here.

Senator Rivera is a proud supporter of the Invest in Our New York (IONY) campaign, a series of proposals that would make billionaires and corporations pay their fair share. He sponsors one of the bills in the package, S.1439, which would establish a fair tax on long-term capital gains for the top 1%. We must make New York affordable for all New Yorkers, not just billionaires.

Learn more about IONY's 2026 Revenue Agenda here.

SENATOR RIVERA HOLDS THIRD SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING OF 2026

This week, the Senate Health Committee held their third meeting of this legislative year and passed all 7 bills including 3 sponsored by Senator Rivera:

S.1857: Enacts the "Medical Debt Relief Act".

S.1225: Requires periodic reviews of pending applications for material change in the coverage status of certain matters relative to new health technology assessment or medical evidence.

S.3359: Corrects the methodology by which Medicaid reimburses community health centers for telehealth services, to be aligned with other providers that are paid through a bundled payment.

In January 2026, Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed Executive Order 08, establishing NYC's first-ever "Rental Ripoff Hearings." These hearings will give New Yorkers across all five boroughs a direct platform to share their housing experiences in conversations with City officials to help shape housing policy. New Yorkers can discuss the challenges they face, from poor conditions and repair delays to unconscionable business practices and non-rent fees. City leaders from agencies focused on tenant stability, housing quality, and consumer protection will be there to listen. This is your chance to tell City government what's working, what isn't, and what needs to change. Registration is required. You can attend at any borough location. If you cannot attend a hearing, there will be options for submitting digital testimonies soon.

Register Here!

TUESDAY 2/17: SENATOR RIVERA HOSTS FREE MONTHLY HOUSING CLINIC WITH THE WEST BRONX HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCE CENTER

The Bronx Defenders invites anyone who lives, works, or studies in the Bronx to step into your power by applying to the Bronx Changemakers Institute—an 8-week transformative experience rooted in organizing, policy, and hands-on engagement in the heart of the Bronx from February 23 - April 20.

This hybrid program (in-person and virtual) is designed to help you discover your voice, strengthen your skills, and shape public life with purpose and clarity. 

With limited spots available, applicants will go through a short interview process. All participants will receive a certificate of completion. 

Applications close February 15. There are no age or educational requirements!

Please email communityengagement@bronxdefenders.org if you have any questions.

DEP 101 WINTER WEATHER TIPS: PROTECT PIPES AND METERS FROM FREEZING

Applications for the 2026 Summer Youth Employment Program are open. Apply here: nyc.gov/syep. The deadline to apply is February 27, 2026.

 

You can also refer any potential SYEP employers to nyc.gov/hirenycyouth.

ATTENTION PARENTS! APPLICATIONS TO 3-K AND PRE-K ARE NOW OPEN!

Fall 2026 Admissions Timeline:   

Wednesday, January 14, 2026: 3-K and Pre-K Applications Open 

Friday, February 27, 2026: 3-K and Pre-K Applications Close 

Tuesday, May 12, 2026: Pre-K Offer Release 

Tuesday, May 19, 2026: 3-K Offer Release 

DHS Arrests Criminal Illegal Alien Pedophile and Rapist After Being Released from Sanctuary City Jail in Oregon

 

Manuel Cruz-Ramirez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested at the Portland International Airport when he attempted to use a fraudulent passport to flee the country

On February 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended Manuel Cruz-Ramirez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, at the Portland International Airport. Cruz-Ramirez was attempting to evade justice for his 2025 arrest for rape, purchasing sex with a minor, and sexual abuse in Marion County, Oregon. Oregon’s sanctuary policies allowed this criminal illegal alien to be RELEASED on bail into the community to victimize more innocents.

TSA and CBP encountered Cruz-Ramirez at a terminal checkpoint when he presented a fraudulent Mexican passport in the name of Moises Ezquivel Mendoza. When the passport did not return full data, CBP used fingerprints to identify Cruz-Ramirez.

Manuel Cruz-Ramirez 

Cruz-Ramirez was previously removed from the U.S. in July 2018. He chose to commit a felony and illegally re-enter the U.S. at an unknown location and time. He is now in ICE custody, and his prior removal order has been re-instated.

“Manuel Cruz-Ramirez was arrested for rape, purchasing sex with a minor, and sexual abuse in Oregon. The state’s sanctuary politicians allowed this pedophile to be released from jail back into American communities,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “Americans can be proud of the swift actions of TSA and CBP for protecting them and our judicial system by preventing this monster from fleeing the country. Criminal illegal aliens should not be released from jails back onto our streets to terrorize more innocent Americans. Oregon’s sanctuary politicians must stop this reckless insanity of releasing child predators from jail back into our neighborhoods to prey on more innocent children.”

DHS law enforcement is protecting American communities every day from another senseless tragedy like this taking place in another town, to another family. Victims of illegal alien crime may receive support from the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office by contacting 1-855-488-6423.