18th Street Gangsters, Associates Arrested on Indictments Alleging Murder, Extortion, Drug Trafficking in L.A.’s MacArthur Park Area

 

Twelve members and associates of 18th Street – Los Angeles’s largest street gang – were arrested today on criminal charges, including the murder of a drug trafficker who failed to pay the gang’s extortionate “taxes,” and further alleging that the gang controlled the city’s MacArthur Park as an open-air drug marketplace, using tents to blend in with the homeless population and avoid detection by law enforcement.

Five of the defendants arrested today are expected to make their initial appearances and be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

During this investigation, federal and local law enforcement have seized more than 175 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Today, law enforcement seized approximately $80,000 in cash, 10 pounds of fentanyl, five pounds of methamphetamine, and six firearms.

A total of seven federal grand jury indictments have been returned against members and associates of 18th Street. The main federal indictment, which contains seven counts, charges the following seven Los Angeles-based members and associates of 18th Street, with one count of racketeering conspiracy:

• Keiko Marie Gonzalez, 59, a.k.a. “Moms,” “La Señora,” and “La Reina,”
• Edward Escalante, 49, a.k.a. “Toro,”
• Edward Alvarenga, 27, a.k.a. “Tito,”
• George Carillo, 60, a.k.a. “Chuco,”
• Carlos Beltran, 48, a.k.a. “Negro,”
• Felipe De Los Angeles, 51, a.k.a. “Indio,” and
• Edwin Martinez, 32, a.k.a. “Dreamer.”

Law enforcement is looking for six fugitives in this matter. One fugitive is believed to be in Mexico and another is believed to be in Guatemala.

“For far too long, 18th Street and other criminals have been allowed to turn one of the city’s most beautiful public spaces into a crime-infested pit. That ends today,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “We are committed to eliminating violent organized crime and open-air drug markets from Los Angeles.”

“The distribution of illegal narcotics in our communities is unacceptable, as is the associated violent crime that many times affects innocent residents,” said Robert Molvar, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office.  “This investigation should send a message to 18th Street Gang members and their Mexican Mafia overlords that we’re going to continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target those responsible for the distribution of illegal narcotics which enrich the gang while they prey on and poison members of our community.”

According to the indictment, 18th Street is historically a Mexican-American street gang that has grown into a transnational gang with more than 100,000 members within the United States, and operates across Mexico, Central and South America, and elsewhere. 18th Street controls numerous neighborhoods in and around Los Angeles, including MacArthur Park and its surrounding blocks.

“MacArthur Park served as an open-air marketplace for drug trafficking by 18th Streeters, many of whom operated within tents to conceal the nature of their drug trafficking and to avoid law enforcement detection,” the indictment alleges. “18th Street also controlled a substantial portion of the drug trafficking activities in the Skid Row area of Downtown Los Angeles.”

The gang controls its “territory” through violence and threats of violence against rivals and others, controls and participates in drug trafficking including that of fentanyl and methamphetamine, operates illegal gambling establishments (casitas) and collects extortionate “taxes.” 

18th Street is affiliated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang and the Mexican Mafia member who maintained ultimate control over 18th Street is an unindicted co-conspirator – identified in the indictment as “Co-Conspirator 1” – who is an inmate at a California state prison.

From at least July 2020 to March 2026, Gonzalez – the second in command and street boss of 18th Street – directly communicated with Co-Conspirator 1. In this role, Gonzalez had decision-making authority, oversaw the gang’s criminal activity, disciplined members, collected rent, “taxes,” and fines from the gang’s members and associates, and ordered murders of individuals in the gang, the gang’s rivals, or drug traffickers. Gonzalez and others also directed drug trafficking, violent acts, and other criminal activities.

For example, on July 27, 2022, Gonzalez ordered the murder of a victim who failed to pay 18th Street’s extortionate taxes on her drug trafficking activities in the gang’s territory. The victim – identified in the indictment as “M.Z.” – was shot to death. Carillo and Beltran are charged with one count of murder in aid of racketeering for their roles in that murder.

Gonzalez, Escalante, Alvarenga, and De Los Angeles also are charged with one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion (Hobbs Act). Escalante additionally is charged with three counts of attempted Hobbs Act extortion, and one count of knowingly and intentionally distributing nearly two pounds of methamphetamine.

“Gang criminals and drug peddlers have been exploiting the MacArthur Park community for far too long,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division. “18th Street has been moving product in MacArthur Park at will. The collaborative work poured into this multi-agency operation is a testament to our resolve to turn the tide. We want to return MacArthur Park back to the community.”

“This indictment exposes a criminal enterprise that relied on illegal activities that generated steady illicit income,” said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-CI Los Angeles Field Office. “By uncovering the financial structure that supported this organization, we are helping dismantle the network that allowed it to operate and profit at the expense of our communities. IRS CI will continue to use our financial expertise to ensure that violent gangs cannot hide their proceeds and cannot use those profits to fuel further harm.” 

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, Carillo and Beltran would face a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment, Gonzalez would face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, Alvarenga would face up to 40 years in federal prison, De Los Angeles and Martinez would face up to 20 years in federal prison, and Escalante would face a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence and a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

The FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration - Southern California Drug Task Force (SCDTF), a DEA-led multi-agency task force within the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Los Angeles Police Department are investigating this matter with assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Marshals Service.

Release of Body Worn Camera Footage from a Police Response to a 911 Call on February 26, 2026, in the vicinity of Columbia University in the confines of the 26th Precinct

 

The NYPD is today releasing body-worn camera footage from police response to a 911 call in the vicinity of Columbia University that occurred on February 26, 2026, in the confines of the 26th Precinct.

All NYPD patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras, which provide transparency into police activity and serve as an independent account of interactions between the NYPD and the communities they serve.

You can find the video here.

United States Files Civil Forfeiture Complaints Against $15M in Funds Allegedly Linked to Iranian Oil Shipping Network

The Department of Justice filed two civil forfeiture complaints today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against more than $15.3 million allegedly used to fund an illicit Iranian oil distribution network.According to the complaints, the funds are subject to forfeiture because they afford a person a source of influence over the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the IRGC Quds Force (IRGC-QF), and are intended to promote ongoing violations of U.S. sanctions imposed under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA). The IRGC and the IRGC-QF are designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

The complaints allege that Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani (Shamkhani) has operated a network consisting of companies and individuals (the Shamkhani Network) engaged in selling and shipping Iranian oil and other commodities in violation of U.S. sanctions and obfuscating the source of the oil and role of Iranian persons and entities in the transactions. According to the complaints, the funds in question were being used to operate multiple distribution companies in the Shamkhani Network.

According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which sanctioned Shamkhani on July 30, 2025, Shamkhani is “the son of Ali Shamkhani, a top political advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran.” Ali Shamkhani is the former head of Iran’s National Defense Council, according to the complaints.

In sanctioning Shamkhani, OFAC stated that the Shamkhani Network “comprises a vast fleet of vessels, ship management firms, and front companies — some posing as legitimate financial services firms — that launder billions in profits from global sales of Iranian and Russian crude oil and other petroleum products, most often to buyers in China.” OFAC further stated that “[t]he network employs significant measures to disguise its operations and obfuscate its ties to the Shamkhani family, Iran, and Russia.”

“Under President Trump's leadership, we have ZERO tolerance for foreign actors using the U.S. financial system to prop up our nation's enemies,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This defendant was allegedly supporting the IRGC with millions of dollars in violation of U.S. sanctions — he will now pay a heavy price.”

“Today’s civil forfeiture complaints illustrate the Criminal Division’s steadfast mission to prevent Iranian-backed shadow companies from using the U.S. financial system to support terrorist organizations, in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran,” said Assistant Attorney General Tysen A. Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Shamkhani and the Shamkhani Network allegedly attempted to clandestinely use U.S. financial institutions to enrich themselves by evading sanctions on Iran and benefit Iran’s terrorist networks. The Department of Justice will use all of the tools at our disposal to prevent the U.S. banking system from being used in any manner to support Iran and its terrorist operations.”

“Shamkhani runs a vast network of shell companies used to evade U.S. sanctions and launder funds for the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Today’s forfeiture actions reflect the National Security Division’s commitment to dismantling the illicit financial networks that have helped to enable Iran to oppress its own people at home and sow instability abroad, including through funding terrorism worldwide.”

“We will continue to aggressively enforce U.S. sanctions against the Iranian regime that has sowed instability and violence in the Middle East,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Working with our partners, we will dismantle the Iranian regime’s ability to fund its illicit activities by seizing and forfeiting any funds that the regime launders through the U.S. financial system.”

“Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani and his network allegedly violated U.S. sanctions by running an illegal scheme to sell millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian oil, and today’s forfeiture complaints seek to seize funds that would otherwise enrich Shamkhani and benefit international terrorist organizations,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “The FBI will not sit back and watch as criminal actors threaten the integrity of our financial systems and jeopardize U.S. national and economic security. With our partners at home and abroad, we will continue following the money and hold accountable all who attempt to undermine international sanctions and fund terrorists.”

“By working alongside our law enforcement partners, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is fulfilling its mission to investigate and dismantle illicit financial networks that attempt to circumvent U.S. sanctions and support foreign terrorist organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of the HSI Washington, D.C. Field Office. “The Shamkhani Network’s efforts to launder millions of dollars through front companies underscore the importance of our work to protect the integrity of the financial system and prevent funds from reaching dangerous criminals. I commend our HSI Washington, D.C. special agents for their hard work and dedication to this effort.”

“IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) remains steadfast in pursuing those who exploit the financial system to support terrorist organizations,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the IRS-CI Washington, D.C. Field Office. “We will follow the money, wherever it leads, to protect national security. Today’s filing demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners commitment to protecting the integrity of the U.S. financial system.”

According to the complaint filed in case 26-cv-802, $12,973,529 of the seized funds were intended for use by Wellbred Capital Pte, Ltd. (Wellbred) and its subsidiary Wellbred Trading DMCC (Wellbred Trading), two companies that were acquired and operated by Shamkhani and his associates to maintain a “brand” that was not publicly perceived to be affiliated with Shamkhani or Iran. As alleged in the complaint, despite this public-facing image, Wellbred and Wellbred Trading were actually operated by Shamkhani and his close associates, not the nominal leadership of those companies, for the benefit of the Shamkhani Network and Iran. Shamkhani maintained organizational charts and diagrams showing Wellbred’s place in the Shamkhani Network: 

Complaint No. 1:26-cv-00802, paragraph 63

Complaint No. 1:26-cv-00802, paragraph 67

According to complaint 1:26-cv-00807, $2,400,000 of the seized funds were intended for use by Sea Lead Shipping Pte, Ltd. (Sea Lead) and its affiliate entity, Sea Lead Shipping Agency India PV (Sea Lead India). As alleged in the complaint, Sea Lead and Sea Lead India were intended to provide shipping services to the Shamkhani Network. The complaint alleges that, as with Wellbred, Shamkhani maintained organizational charts showing Sea Lead’s place in the Shamkhani Network:

Complaint No. 1:26-cv-00807, paragraph 66

The FBI Minneapolis Field Office; HSI Washington D.C. Field Office; and IRS-CI Global Illicit Finance Team (GIFT) are investigating the case.

Senior Trial Attorney Peter M. Nothstein and Trial Attorneys Mark H. Goldberg, Katlin K. O’Brien and Jonathan C. Lowry of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics, and Forfeiture Section (MNF); Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Barry for the District of Columbia; and Acting Deputy Chief Sean Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Controls Section (CES) are prosecuting the case.

The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.

A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

MAYOR MAMDANI LAUNCHES NEW EFFORTS TO TAKE SIDEWALK SHEDS DOWN, REQUIRE FEWER UNNECESSARY SHEDS

 

NYCHA making $650 million in façade repairs and taking sheds down at 40 developments across NYC 

  

New DOB rules will require sheds less frequently and keep open space uncovered 

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced a series of programs to take longstanding sheds down, especially at NYCHA campuses, and reduce the amount of sheds required moving forward. The Department of Buildings (DOB) is advancing reforms to reduce the amount of shed coverage that is required over open space further away from buildings and to require façade inspections less frequently, especially at lower-risk buildings, potentially reducing the number of sheds that are installed.   

  

Mayor Mamdani announced the programs alongside Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg, DOB Commissioner Ahmed Tigani and elected officials at Highbridge Gardens in the Bronx, where NYCHA is removing sheds that have been up for five years due to unsafe façade conditions, which have finally been addressed. Highbridge Gardens is one of 40 developments across New York City where NYCHA is using $650 million in state and federal funding to make long-needed façade repairs. Approximately $400 million in repairs have been completed and sheds have been removed at over 200 buildings to date.  

  

“In the greatest city in the world, we should not accept darkened sidewalks and covered walkways as a fact of life. Our administration’s investments in shed removal and regulations to shed placement will deliver a more livable city by not just repairing NYCHA's buildings but ensuring all New Yorkers can enjoy light and fresh air when they step outside,” said Mayor Mamdani.  

  

“Sheds may seem small, but they are a big imposition on New Yorkers' quality of life. With these reforms — thanks to work by civil servants at DOB and NYCHA, the City Council, and state and federal partners — we will make real progress to take sheds down,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. “New Yorkers should be able to enjoy natural light and unobstructed public space, and that's what we'll deliver.”  

  

“The removal of shedding at Highbridge Gardens signifies safer conditions, clearer walkways, and meaningful quality of life improvements for NYCHA residents,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “We appreciate the Mamdani Administration's support and look forward to working alongside the Department of Buildings to remove unnecessary shedding while we continue the critical facade repairs necessary to take down required sheds. With more than 200 buildings already completed through $400 million in State and Federal funding, we are making real progress in ensuring residents are experiencing a safer, more inviting atmosphere around their buildings and on their campuses.”  

  

“The removal of these sidewalk sheds is a great day for the residents of Highbridge Houses, and serves as another concrete example of the city's commitment to safely remove sheds citywide,” said Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani. “Efforts led by the Buildings Department have already led to a 17% decline in sidewalk sheds citywide, and thanks to this package of proposed agency rules for facade inspections and permit oversight we are primed to build on this progress.”  

  

Based on a study done in coordination with engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti, DOB will reform Local Law 11 façade inspection regulations to change the length of time between required inspections. These updates will extend the timeline for inspections an extra year, from five to six years, and will create an abbreviated filing program for lower-risk, well-maintained buildings that can lower hands-on inspection requirements to every 12 years – instead of the current requirement of every five years.   

  

DOB is also implementing new regulations that now require sheds associated with unsafe building facades to extend only a maximum of 40 feet away from buildings. The previous requirement unnecessarily mandated that sheds cover walkways and sidewalks that were much further from buildings, up to half of the height of the building. This change, a result of Local Law 47, passed by the City Council in 2025, means that sheds will cover less open space on “campuses” like NYCHA properties, multi-building developments and universities, allowing for more open space to remain uncovered for neighbors to enjoy.  

  

Finally, DOB is proposing a new agency rule to implement Local Law 48 that will enhance enforcement and oversight of sidewalk sheds. The new rule will include penalties for keeping sheds up for longer than 180 days, compelling building owners to more quickly begin needed façade repairs and provide DOB and the public with regular status updates every 90 days. These new enforcement and oversight procedures will be put into effect this summer. New Yorkers will be able to comment on these proposed rules in the coming weeks prior to implementation of the final rules.  

Brothers From Mexico Sentenced to Prison for Multi-Year Drug Distribution Conspiracy

 

Defendants Arrested with Multi-Pound Quantities of Fentanyl and Heroin Following DEA Surveillance of Drug Trafficking Deals

Seized fentanyl pills and powder.

One of two brothers from Mexico, who were both caught with a total of more than 30 pounds of fentanyl powder and pills and a kilo of heroin, was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 42 months in prison. Benito Perez Aguilar, 29, of Kent, Washinton, and his brother Antonio Perez Aguilar, 32, of Mill Creek, Washington, were arrested in May 2025 following a drug trafficking investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division.  The men shared the moniker “Miguel” in their drug trafficking from 2022-2025. The investigation documented various drug sales throughout western Washington. Neither brother has legal status in the U.S.

“This investigation shut down a significant fentanyl and heroin distribution operation that was putting lives at risk across western Washington,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “As part of our commitment to a Fentanyl Free America, DEA is committed to disrupting the fentanyl supply chain, reducing the availability of these deadly drugs, and saving American lives. Investigations like this show that DEA and our partners will continue to target the criminal networks responsible for trafficking these deadly drugs and hold those who profit from this poison accountable.”

“These men were moving large amounts of fentanyl pills and powder in our community – they were not small-time dealers,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Particularly concerning, Benito Perez Aguilar, while driving impaired, caused a traffic accident on I-5 in n 2017. He remained a fugitive on a state court warrant related to that case, until his federal arrest last year.” 

According to records filed in the case, the DEA moved in on the residences of both brothers on May 16, 2025. At Benito’s residence, law enforcement recovered approximately 76.5 grams of M-30 pills, 1,169 grams of fentanyl powder, as well as scales, baggies, and $20,285 in cash. In Antonio’s residence, officers seized 1,992.3 grams of M-30 pills; 11,320 grams of fentanyl powder, 1,271.8 grams of heroin, and $12,396 in cash.

In November, Benito Perez Aguilar pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

In asking for a five-year prison term, prosecutors noted the danger of the drugs the brothers trafficked in the community, and evidence that Mr. Perez had engaged in drug trafficking previously. “On December 15, 2017, Mr. Perez caused a multi-vehicle collision while driving under the influence. He then attempted to escape the scene by offering another driver up to $2,000 to drive him away. After Mr. Perez was located by law enforcement, he was observed to have bloodshot eyes and the odor of intoxicants. Police officers later conducted a court-authorized search of Mr. Perez’s vehicle and recovered 411 grams of heroin, six scales, five phones, and a box of Ziploc baggies. Mr. Perez failed to appear in court as directed by a summons in 2018. There was an active warrant for Mr. Perez based on this criminal conduct for over seven years, until he was arrested in 2025.”

U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead ordered Benito Perez Aguilar to serve four years of supervised release following his prison term. However, he likely will be deported following prison due to a lack of legal status in the United States.

Last month Antonio Perez Aguilar was sentenced to four years in prison. He had already been convicted in 2018 of Solicitation to Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Cocaine, in state court, for purchasing $105,000 worth of cocaine. He was sentenced to four months in prison in that case.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division.

Governor Hochul Announces More Than $15 Million Awarded to 13 Workforce Development Projects

Grants Through Empire State Development's Office of Strategic Workforce Development Will Support Efforts Throughout the State

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that more than $15 million has been awarded to 13 workforce development projects across nine regions through Empire State Development's Office of Strategic Workforce Development. These grants will support the training of more than 5,700 New Yorkers through collaboration between training providers and more than 40 employer partners in high demand fields such as construction and advanced manufacturing. Through nine rounds of funding, more than $83 million has been awarded to 91 projects through the Office to support training for over 20,000 New Yorkers.

“Reshaping New York's approach to workforce training has been a pillar of my economic development strategy — and we're seeing the results,” Governor Hochul said. “By working with employers in target industries, more New Yorkers are learning the skills needed for high-demand jobs, while receiving the support they need to promote greater success. These projects represent an investment in New Yorkers and the future of our state's economy.”

Governor Hochul first established the Office of Strategic Workforce Development at ESD in April 2022 to support industry-driven workforce programs to ensure that more New Yorkers have the skills for in-demand jobs that pay a living wage in the state's high-growth industries. Pay for Performance (P4P) Operating Grants offer flexible funding to help providers cover programmatic expenses like curriculum development and wraparound services to prepare New Yorkers with in-demand skills and industry-recognized credentials. Workforce Development (WFD) Capital Grants support the capital needs of workforce training providers that seek to enhance or expand their offerings. These programs allow training providers to expand the capacity of successful programs with high placement rates and effective wraparound services.

Round 9 awardees:

• University at Buffalo Business Entrepreneur Partnerships – Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Southern Tier, Western New York – $3.7 Million P4P Operating Grant: The University at Buffalo will work with a consortium of five BOCES districts to establish a new, interconnected network of Career Centers at each campus and better connect with industry partners to increase direct job placements. The project will strengthen BOCES’ existing organizational and educational infrastructure while modernizing career services and employer coordination. Additionally, new performance tracking will help to increase the number of trainees directly entering the workforce by providing personal case management and career services to participants. New data collection methods will create a standardized system to track post-graduation wage and employment outcomes. The project will also result in a data-driven Career Center Blueprint and replication toolkit with potential for scaling the program to BOCES statewide.
• STRIVE International, Inc. – New York City – $2 Million P4P Operating Grant: Funding will support STRIVE's Pathways to Possibilities program, a two-tiered construction career development initiative serving East Harlem and Brooklyn. The grant will enable the continuation of the existing Tier 1 program, which provides basic career readiness and occupational skills training to prepare for entry-level construction field work, as well as implementation of the new Tier 2 program called STRIVEForward+. This pilot program would provide Tier 1 alumni with the opportunity to upskill and earn advanced credentials to prepare for higher-wage leadership and specialized roles. STRIVE supports trainees with lifetime case management, including career coaching, transportation assistance, and stipends distributed both during training and as retention incentives post-placement.
• Dutchess Community College – Mid-Hudson – $1.99 Million P4P Operating Grant: Funding will help to expand microcredential pathways for electrical, advanced manufacturing, and HVAC careers at the new Center of Excellence for Business, Industry and Innovation (COEBII) in Fishkill. Developed in partnership with Dutchess County and reutilizing space in an abandoned mall — made possible with capital support from ESD and SUNY’s Future of Work Center — DCC will expand credentialing opportunities by supporting instructor training and certification to provide more varied and advanced modules in advanced manufacturing and clean technology. Trainees are supported via case management, stipends, transportation assistance and academic assistance, including job placement assistance with a strong network of industry partners.
• Nassau BOCES – Long Island – $1.88 Million P4P Operating Grant: Funding will support the development of a new Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining and expanded welding programs to supplement recent physical upgrades to the training space supported in part by the US Navy. These upgrades were designed to directly address workforce shortages in advanced manufacturing, defense, aerospace, and shipbuilding industries, which are critical to Long Island’s economy and national security. The project serves the local manufacturing supply chain of more than 300 local partners, with training supporting traditional high-school pathways along with introductory adult education and incumbent worker upskilling.
• Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES – Finger Lakes – $1.2 Million WFD Capital Grant: Funding will support renovations and upgrades at Finger Lakes Technical and Career Center and Wayne Technical and Career Center to provide more space for electrical trades and carpentry programs, bringing facilities up to industry standards and expanding capacity for hands-on training opportunities. Programs are developed and implemented in partnership with Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity to increase the supply of affordable housing while providing participants National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) credentialed training and hands-on experience in the field.
• Mosholu Montefiore Community Center – New York City – $738,675 P4P Operating Grant: Funding will help expand the new Green Construction Craft Laborer program at MMCC following a successful pilot cohort. The program features four weeks of intensive introductory and job readiness training followed by 12 weeks of industry skills training utilizing NCCER curriculum, preparing low-income Bronx residents for well-paying careers in the fast-growing clean energy and construction sectors. Comprehensive case management and access to services are provided to participants both during training and for an additional six months during job placement services.
• Roofers Local 195 Joint Apprenticeship Training Fund – Central New York –$519,949 P4P Operating Grant and $165,234 WFD Capital Grant: Capital funding will support the renovation and expansion of Local 195's Liverpool training facility, improving the physical training environment, site access, and energy efficiency, and doubling enrollment capacity. Operating funds will assist with training and operating costs associated with increased cohort sizes, including access to wraparound supports like stipends, transportation and lodging assistance, and required tools and equipment.
• PM Excellence, LLC – Mid-Hudson – $666,950 P4P Operating Grants:Funding will support the expansion of the LADDER-NY program, which provides pathways to leadership positions in the construction industry via certification as a project manager with specialization in electrical or general construction management. The program features hands-on training, employer-aligned curriculum, job readiness preparation, and comprehensive case management and wraparound services, including weekly group coaching, access to transportation, childcare and housing assistance, and alumni retention support and upskilling for one-year after completion.
• AnnieCannons – New York City – $643,579 P4P Operating Grants: Funding will help expand the trauma-informed, survivor-centered, paid coding training program for survivors of trafficking in New York City. AnnieCannons will expand job readiness and placement services via apprenticeships to increase trainee placement into sustainable tech jobs. The program enrolls trainees as employees during training, providing access to hourly compensation and healthcare benefits while preparing survivors for careers in software development, data analysis and cybersecurity. The program features comprehensive case management, mental health support, mentorship, and alumni supports and continuing education for graduates.
• Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer BOCES – North Country – $540,161 WFD Capital Grant: Funding will support the purchase of virtual reality simulators to support the expansion of the heavy equipment operations and welding programs at the Watertown and Glenfield Technical Centers. The simulators will allow for immediate assessment of student work and reduced material costs associated with training, as well as increasing overall program capacity, addressing the urgent hiring needs of regional business partners like Micron.
• Oswego County Workforce New York – Central New York – $484,798 P4P Operating Grant: Funding will expand the Oswego Build: Pathways to Apprenticeship program following successful pilot cohorts in 2025. This project expands on the Build model of entry-level construction career training with strong ties to local union trades to include a new Energy Industry Fundamentals module in support of regional clean and nuclear energy projects. The program model features paid training aligned with North Atlantic Building Trades Union’s Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), combined with comprehensive wraparound services, including career navigation, transportation and childcare assistance.
• Clinton Community College – North Country – $260,799 P4P Operating Grant: Funding will support the expansion of the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing’s (IAM) three-week Welding Academy to offer additional training opportunities and wraparound services, including stipends and transportation and childcare assistance. IAM has been providing welding training since 2022 with 100 percent completion and job placement rates and waitlists for each cohort. This project will double the number of yearly cohorts served, providing trained and job-ready workers for the North Country's network of more than 50 manufacturers.
• Onondaga Community College – Central New York – $216,129 WFD Capital Grant: Funding will support the purchase and installation of updated machinery and equipment at the Whitney Applied Technology Center to support delivery of stackable credentials, including a new Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining microcredential and a new one-year welding certificate to support the needs of the manufacturing and construction industries. The project will increase the capacity for enrollment and hands-on experiences for students and will supplement existing investments from industry partners. 

VCJC News & Notes3/6/2026

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Lots of things this week, including our Finding Your Haven class, Purim greetings, belated Tu b’Shevat kiddush, and the MLK park cleanup.  Read all the way through!

Reminders

1. Shabbos schedule
   
   
   Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
   Here are the times you need:  
   Shabbos Candles Friday 3/6/26 @ 5:34 pm
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 3/7/26 @ 6:39 pm

   If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah please speak to one of the gabbaim.

   
   

   Come join us for services and stay to enjoy the kiddush and the company.
   

2. About our new kiddushim
   For the past several weeks, the VCJC has upgraded its kiddush after Shabbos services. Kiddush now takes place in the ballroom. There is a greater variety of food, which can be enjoyed while seated at covered tables. Our aim is to offer a more enjoyable and meaningful experience, and to encourage conversation and interaction among attendees. This is an evolving effort. It has received very positive reviews so far; we’d love to have your opinion as well. Please join us for services and kiddush, and let us know what you think!

3. Daylight Savings time starts

   Daylight savings time starts on Sunday at 2 AM.  Turn your clocks ahead 1 hour on Saturday night before going to bed.
   

4. The VCJC Chavurah

   The VCJC Chavurah will be meeting one night during the week to continue learning Tractate Berachot together.  Anyone who is interested in learning torah together with fellow members of our community is welcome to join us.  
   If you are interested in learning torah with a group of fellow members of your community, but want more details, contact the VCJC office at 718-884-6105 or info@vcjewishcenter.org, or speak to Stuart Harris or Matthew Hartstein after davening on Shabbat morning.
   
   

5. Shabbos parsha

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Parashat Ki Tisa 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת כִּי תִשָּׂא

   7 March 2026 / 18 Adar 5786

   Parashat Ki Tisa is the 21st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.

   Torah Portion: Exodus 30:11-34:35; Numbers 19:1-22

   Ki-Tisa (“When You Elevate”) opens as God tells Moses to collect a half-shekel donation from all Israelites and to anoint the Mishkan (Tabernacle), its vessels, and the priests. The Israelites worship the golden calf and Moses breaks the tablets. Moses beseeches God to forgive, and returns with a second set of tablets. [1]

   
   

6. You can do it! Give VCJC a boost!  Leave a (positive) review for us on Google
   -->You can do this!  We know you can! YES, YOU!

   The VCJC is working to build and grow for its next century in Van Cortlandt Village.  If you have had a good experience with us or recognize our value to the community, please consider telling the world about it.  Go to our Google Business Profile and leave a review.  Thanks!

Save your place now for March 15 for a Master Class "Finding a Haven Within" NOTE THE DATE HAS CHANGED A SECOND TIME!

Sunday March 15, 12 PM

RSVP By 3/11/26: call the office (718) 884-6105 or email info@vcjewishcenter.org

Suggested fee is $15.00. If you have a mat, bring it. If not, we have a few.

In the swiftly moving, ever-changing world we live in today, you can find a quiet, safe, and secure haven in which there is peace, deep relaxation, and inner joy. This is what we offer you in an easy yoga-based stretching, soft meditation, and guided, systematic deep relaxation class. The results can be more effective and dramatic than you might expect. Students have had a profound effect on the increased level of their grades.  

It is based on Prof. Barbara Kitai's 37 years of teaching this system to college academics, corporate executives, athletes, students, children, and adults of all backgrounds.

The class consists of an introduction explaining the purpose and theory, 15 minutes of easy yoga-based stretching, and a cool down, 15 minutes of breathing techniques, meditation, 20 minutes of excellent guided relaxation throughout the body & mind, and 10-15 minutes  (time allowing) for a creative writing of self-reflection and awareness.

See our blog post.

Blood Drive to meet the blood supply emergency.  Sunday, March 8 at HIR

Please help with information about buildings

As part of rebuilding the membership and congregation, the Board of Trustees would like your help. There are a lot of either new or renovated buildings being put up in our catchment area. We would like to seek the cooperation of the owners / developers of those properties in publicizing these opportunities to live near an orthodox synagogue.  If you are aware of any of these buildings, please provide what information you can about them.  This could include the address, any contact information that might be posted, and any information about the building itself (size, type, etc.). Additionally, if you are aware of vacancies in existing buildings or of houses for sale, please let us know about that as well.

3rd annual Community Cleanup Day for MLK Day

This event, for which the VCJC is an acknowledged collaborator, has now been scheduled for March 29.  See the poster below. Registration link

Our mailing address is:
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave
Bronx, NY 10463