We look forward to seeing you
Monday, September 14, 2026
Hernandez Blasts Hochul’s Taxpayer Funded Bribe Ahead of Election Day
Joseph Hernandez, Republican candidate for New York State Comptroller, today released the following statement on Governor Kathy Hochul's $200 rebate checks sent out only 50 days before November’s gubernatorial election, and are funded by roughly $1 billion in state revenue:
"Kathy Hochul just found $1 billion to mail you a check 50 days before her election this November. Ask yourself why. New Yorkers have paid record electric bills for years under her watch, and suddenly $200 shows up in the mail. That's old-fashioned bribery with taxpayer money, and she's not even hiding it anymore.
A one-time check doesn't fix a permanently broken system. If Albany wants to actually help, here's where to start. First, strip out the hidden surcharges and mandate-driven fees padding every utility bill. Second, freeze and audit rate hikes utilities are allowed to pass straight to ratepayers. Third, stop passing the cost of Albany's energy mandates onto working families' monthly bills."
Con Edison, National Grid, and every utility in this state are passing along rate hikes, approved under the Hochul-DiNapoli Administration and driven by their energy mandates. New Yorkers aren't stupid, we know a $200 crumb when we see one. Fix our bills, fix them permanently, and stop bribing us with our own money.”
New York City Leads Cities and Counties in Lawsuit Challenging Federal Government’s New Public Charge Rule
Coalition Filing in Southern District of New York Challenges Rule That Could Push Immigrant Families Away from Essential Health Care and Food Assistance
New York City Lawsuit Filed Alongside Separate Challenge Led by New York Attorney General
Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced that New York City, alongside the City of Chicago, the City and County of San Francisco, the County of Santa Clara, the City of Seattle, King County, Washington and the Public Rights Project, filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s new public charge rule.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, comes alongside a separate legal challenge led by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. New York is being joined by states, cities, counties and the Public Rights Project across the country in challenging the federal government’s attempt to deny green cards and visas to immigrants based on their use of means-tested, or income-based, local, state, and federal public benefits, without clear definitions or meaningful guardrails. The rule is the latest in the federal government’s relentless assault on immigrant families and their ability to live and work in the cities they call home.
“The new public charge rule seeks to push immigrant families away from the programs that have kept people fed and healthy for decades. New Yorkers will be afraid to see a doctor or ask for help they are legally entitled to. That fear will not stop at the families that the federal government is targeting. Families who remain fully eligible for benefits will feel a chilling effect, and all New Yorkers will pay for it,” said Mayor Mamdani. “New York City is proud to lead a coalition of cities and counties — Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Clara County, Seattle, King County and the Public Rights Project — standing firmly against this cruel and unlawful rule. Our immigrant communities are not a burden. They are the people who make New York City and country great. We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure they can continue to live here with dignity and without fear.”
In its lawsuit, the coalition argues that the new public charge rule sweeps aside more than a century of settled law, as well as decades of federal guidance establishing clear limits on how public charge determinations can be made. Instead, the new rule dramatically and unlawfully expands the government’s authority to consider an immigrant’s use of public benefits, allowing the federal government to consider virtually any means-tested or income-based public benefits while inviting officers to make decisions that are inconsistent and discriminatory.
“The federal government has again targeted our immigrant communities with an extremely harmful new federal public charge rule,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Steve Banks. “This new rule sweeps away more than a century of settled law to unlawfully broaden the definition of ‘public charge’ in a way that Congress never intended. No immigrant New Yorker should have to choose between their immigration status and benefits for which they are legally eligible.”
“The federal government’s changes to the public charge rule are creating fear and confusion among immigrant communities, which may keep families from accessing public benefits and services that help keep them healthy and safe,” said MOIA Commissioner Faiza N. Ali. “No one should have to choose between their family’s wellbeing and their future in this country. As New York City and municipalities across the country challenge these changes in court, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs will continue making sure immigrant New Yorkers know their rights, know where to turn to for help and can access trusted legal support.”
This new rule is designed to create fear. It will have a massive chilling effect across immigrant communities, discouraging New Yorkers from accessing benefits and services for which they or their family members are legally eligible – including many people who are not subject to the rule at all.
The new Public Charge Rule is expected to go into effect on September 18. New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, can call the MOIA’s Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 1-800-354-0365 or 311 and say “Immigration Legal” to get connected to free, safe and confidential immigration legal assistance in their preferred language.
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Waterbury LaSalle Community Association - OUR NEXT MEETING September 22nd at 7:30 pm please join us
Our next meeting will be on September 22nd at 7:30 pm at the First Lutheran Church on Hollywood and Baisley Avenues. It’s time to get ready to vote in the mid terms. This election is very important and in order to cast an educated vote you must know each candidate and be familiar with their platform. Most of us know our local politicians but you must also know the candidates running against them. This will help you cast an educated vote.
Our guest speakers will be Diamont Hysenaj who will run against Alexandria Ocasio Cortez for Congress, Irene Guanill running against Michael Benedetto for Assembly, Adrian Romero running against Nathalia Fernandez for Senate. This race is crucial if you are hoping for positive change in our community. Your vote is crucial to make change happen! Even if you have already met some of these candidates, please come out to hear them again and ask those hard questions! Remember, our politicians work for us. Tell them what you need them to do!
Kristy Marmorato will also stop by with Bruce Blakeman lawn signs. She is working on his campaign and I’m hoping she will also bring information regarding his platform.
There are some changes at CB 10 and I will give you latest information regarding our community board.
This will be an informative meeting that I hope you will make a special effort to attend. Please give our upcoming elections some thought and come with your questions and suggestions.
Waterbury LaSalle Community Association
Come hear from State Senator Salazar
Hi Everyone!
Want to know why it's so complicated to tax the rich? Or why some projects in your community get funded, but others don't?
And, did you know our State Budget does more than provide funding and dictate our state taxes? It also includes immigration protections, tenant protections, criminal justice reforms, and more.
Learn more at my upcoming town hall on October 1st, where I'll explain the budget process and answer your questions. More info below!
See you there,
State Senator Julia Salazar
Bronx Fashion Week - Join Us: Cultura & Couture (Oct 8) & Making Strides Survivor Fashion Showcase (Oct 3)
Dear Friends, Partners, and Community,
This October, Bronx Fashion Week invites you to two events where fashion becomes a platform for culture, community, resilience, and impact.
October 8 | Cultura & Couture
Honoring Hispanic, Latin American & Caribbean Influence, Innovation & Impact
Join Bronx Fashion Week and Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson for an evening celebrating the artistry, heritage, and innovation of Hispanic, Latin American, and Caribbean cultures, featuring:
- A runway presentation
- A special exhibition by the International Salsa Museum
- A curated showcase of local designers and artisans
- Community organizations and partners
Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Location: Bronx Borough Hall, 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
Time: Doors open 4:00 PM | Show 5:00 PM
Attire: Dress to impress
Registration is required to attend, though it doesn't guarantee a seat — seating is general admission and first-come, first-served, so we recommend arriving early. Join us as a guest or become a Community Partner by registering here: https://tinyurl.com/
October 3 | Fashion with Purpose
Bronx Fashion Week is joining forces with the American Cancer Society at the Mall at Bay Plaza to honor the lives of those impacted by cancer — recognizing survivors, caregivers, families, and loved ones through fashion.
Register for the Making Strides Survivor Fashion Showcase on Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.
We invite corporations, nonprofits, cultural institutions, community leaders, and businesses to partner with us in celebrating Hispanic, Latin American, and Caribbean heritage while supporting designers, artists, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. Whether you attend as a guest, sponsor, vendor, or community partner, your participation helps elevate talent, strengthen community, and show the power of fashion to bring people together.
For sponsorship, vendor, or partnership opportunities, please contact:
Flora Montes: (203) 893-5553
Millicent Matos: (929) 286-0160
We would be honored to have you with us as we celebrate culture, courage, creativity, and community this October. Please register at the link to attend.
With gratitude,
THURSDAY 09/17: Join a NYHA 101 with Senator Gustavo Rivera at Lehman College!
Dear Neighbor,
Since becoming an elected official, I have worked hard in Albany to pass policies to ensure an affordable, accessible healthcare system for all New Yorkers. As Chair of the Senate Health Committee, I believe that we have a responsibility to transform our broken healthcare system that puts profits before people. Approximately a million New Yorkers are losing their healthcare coverage due to the drastic cuts to publicly subsidized health insurance by the Trump administration. It is critical that New York State enact bold solutions to combat this healthcare crisis.
We must pass the New York Health Act. As the Senate sponsor of this bill since 2017, the NY Health Act (S.3425), I’m focused on establishing a single-payer healthcare system in New York State to guarantee high-quality, comprehensive healthcare for all New Yorkers.
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Do you want to learn more about how transformative the New York Health Act would be for New York? I invite you to join me at NYHA 101 in the Bronx, a community conversation about the movement for single-payer health care and the work ahead to make this bill a reality. Register to meet us at Lehman College in the Music Building at 6:30 PM here: bit.ly/3SUhW3A
Whether you’re new to organizing around the New York Health Act or simply want to brush up on the basics, this is an opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and hear about the work happening to make healthcare more affordable and accessible.
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I hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Gustavo Rivera
New York State Senator
33rd District, The Bronx
The East Bronx History Forum’s 207th meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 16th at 7:30 pm in the lower level of St. Clare of Assisi Church, located at 1027 Rhinelander Avenue.
Dear Member,
Welcome back from summer, the East Bronx History Forum is eager to kick off its 21st season. This month we will feature Amelia Zaino, who was born and raised in Co-Op City, will be talking about Secret Steams of the Northeast Bronx: Rattlesnake and Black Dog Brooks. Amelia’s interest in the natural landscape of this section of the Bronx developed from walks with her grandfather along the Hutchinson River shoreline. Those early walks piqued her interest as she began to read John McNamara’s History in Asphalt.
Rattlesnake Brook, for instance had its origins in Mount Vernon, traversed through the Bronx and emptied into the Hutchinson River. According to 19th century historian Reginald Pelham Bolton, the brook was actually a cascade as it entered today’s Seton Falls Park, which 180 years ago was William Seton’s estate “Cragdon”. The brook was eventually dammed to form Holler’s Pond, which was a delight to children in the winter months since it created conditions ripe for ice-skating. Today, the pond is no more and the Boston-Secor Houses overlays the footprint of where it once was located. By the time the brook reached head waters of the Hutchinson River it became a creek mixing with the tidal saltwater intrusion.
Our 207th meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 16th at 7:30 pm in the lower level of St. Clare of Assisi Church, located at 1027 Rhinelander Avenue. There is ample parking just north of the entrance on Paulding Avenue. As in the past, all of our meetings are free and open to the public and of course bring a friend. Please remember to follow us at Bronxnyc.com and as well on our social media pages: Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Vimeo.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Dorothy A. Krynicki - Secretary
Photo Caption: Reed’s Mill in Eastchester constructed in 1739 and blown down by a storm in 1900, located by what would now be near the Hutchinson River.
Credit: East Bronx History Forum