Four Arrested in Connection with Illegal Psilocybin Mushrooms and Candy Seized from Businesses in Manhattan’s East Village

 

 Four individuals were arrested following an investigation into the sale of psychedelic psilocybin mushroom products from a CBD store on East 11th Street and a smoke shop on East 7th Street in Manhattan’s East Village. The investigation began in response to community complaints, and involved a series of undercover purchases and court-authorized searches by members of the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Narcotics Borough Manhattan South.

 Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell announced the arrests today following arraignments in Manhattan Criminal Court yesterday and early this morning. 

 The Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor filed two criminal complaints in connection with the investigation. The first criminal complaint charges defendant STEVEN PHAN, the alleged owner of “Come Back Daily,” located at 516 East 11th Street, with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, and defendants WILLLIAM BRAKO and NINA FINK with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree.

 The second complaint charges defendant MOHAMED AHIR, the alleged owner of “City Clouds,” located at 120 East 7th Street, with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree.

 Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, “The NYPD and Office of Special Narcotics responded to community complaints and concerns about illegal drug dealing in commercial establishments. I thank those who care enough about their neighborhoods and protecting public safety to alert us to the ongoing problem of distribution of illegal substances by purportedly legitimate businesses.”

 “Our intelligence-driven investigation, stemming from community complaints, has put a stop to this criminal activity and demonstrates, once again, that the NYPD and our law enforcement partners will never waver in our fight against the harm caused by illegal drugs,” said Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “I want to thank our NYPD detectives from Manhattan South Narcotics for working so swiftly and effectively with our partners in the office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York to make this important case.”

 The investigation revealed that illegal psilocybin mushroom products were allegedly stored and sold inside a secret back area of “Come Back Daily,” located at 516 East 11th Street. Customers would pass through a public section of the store and say a code phrase to a receptionist. Buyers were then directed to a hidden door that led to a back room with a counter, an office/storage area and a lounge. Inside this back area, customers could allegedly purchase illegal controlled substances, such as psilocybin mushrooms in various forms.

 A court-authorized search of “Come Back Daily” by members of the NYPD’s Narcotics Borough Manhattan South occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 20, 2022. PHAN was present at the time and allegedly identified himself as the owner of the store. BRAKO and FINK were also present.

 Inside the hidden back area of the store, officers recovered a large quantity of psilocybin mushroom products in various forms, including pills, mushrooms, chocolate bars and gummies. Officers seized nearly 1,500 psilocybin mushroom pills packaged inside sealed containers that held 10 or 30 pills each; 59 medium ziplock bags of “Mushie” brand psilocybin mushroom in mushroom form; 24 medium ziplock bags of “Mushie” brand psilocybin gummies; a box containing 35 large chocolate “Polka-Dot” psilocybin mushroom bars, a box containing 8 small “Polka-Dot” psilocybin mushroom bars; 3 yellow wrapper mushroom chocolate bars; and four plastic bags containing psilocybin mushrooms. Also recovered was approximately $1,884 cash.

 The criminal complaint details two undercover purchases of psilocybin mushroom products that occurred inside “Come Back Daily” during the investigation. On November 1, 2022, at approximately 4:28 p.m., an undercover officer went inside the store and allegedly received 10 psilocybin mushroom pills from BRAKO in exchange for $70 cash.

 Just prior to the search on December 20, 2022, at approximately 4:13 p.m., an undercover officer went inside the store and allegedly received 10 pills of psilocybin mushrooms from FINK in exchange for $70 cash.

 Also on December 20, 2022, an undercover officer entered “City Clouds,” located at 120 East 7th Street, at approximately 3:44 p.m. and asked for a “One Up” mushroom chocolate bar containing psilocybin. AHIR allegedly handed the undercover officer a bar in exchange for $50 cash. AHIR allegedly identified himself as the owner of the store to arresting officers. A second “One Up” mushroom chocolate bar containing psilocybin was recovered in a search of the store.

 Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan thanked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and commended SNP’s Trial Division and the NYPD’s Narcotics Borough Manhattan South for their work on the investigation.

 Defendants                                                Charges

Steven Phan Brooklyn, NY Age: 33         CPCS 5th – 1 ct 

William Brako Queens, NY Age: 24         CSCS 5th – 1 ct

                                                                 CPCS 5th – 1 ct

Nina Fink New York, NY Age: 22             CSCS 5th – 1 ct 

                                                                 CPCS 5th – 1 ct

Mohamed Ahir Brooklyn, NY Age: 44      CSCS 5th – 1 ct 

The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Massachusetts Man Found Guilty at Trial for Assaulting Law Enforcement During January 6 Capitol Breach

 

Defendant Used Police Shield to Ram Into Officers

A Massachusetts man was found guilty of felony and misdemeanor charges for assaulting law enforcement during the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

Vincent J. Gillespie, 61, of Athol, Massachusetts, was found guilty after a trial in U.S. District Court of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers; civil disorder; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell scheduled sentencing for March 17, 2023.

Gillespie was arrested on February 18, 2022, in Athol, Massachusetts.

The evidence at trial showed that on January 6, 2021, from approximately 4:11 p.m. to 4:26 p.m., Gillespie was among rioters in the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol who engaged in pushing, shoving, yelling, and fighting with law enforcement officers. He struggled his way through the crowd, eventually maneuvering through the rioters to the line of police officers defending the Lower West Terrace’s exterior door. At one point, he gained control of a police shield and used it to ram the police. He then used two hands to grab a Metropolitan Police Department sergeant by the arm, yanking him toward the mob. He then screamed “traitor” and “treason” at the police.

This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

The case was investigated by the FBI Boston Division’s Springfield, Massachusetts Resident Agency Joint Terrorism Task Force, the FBI Boston Division’s Worcester Resident Agency, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Athol, Massachusetts Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Gillespie was identified as #141 on the FBI Washington Field Office’s seeking information photos.

In the 23 months since January 6, close to 900 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 275 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Governor Hochul Holds Storm Briefing

 

Governor Hochul: "[T]he basic message is, we're going to continue to keep warming centers open, encourage people to stay home. Roads are closed throughout Western New York and will be, probably through Christmas Day.”

Hochul: “In addition to having a statewide Emergency Declaration, I'll be asking the federal government for a Declaration of Emergency that’ll allow us to seek reimbursements for the extraordinary expenses of all the overtime and the fact that we've brought in mutual aid from other parts of the state.”

Hochul: “I did want to put a special spotlight right now on the City of New York. It got through some tough circumstances, with the high winds, the ice, the freezing cold. And it is still a dangerous situation. We want to confirm that just because you see clear skies and the rain has stopped and the flooding seems to have abated, that it is still vulnerable because of the icy cold temperatures which can be life-threatening.”

 Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul held a briefing to update New Yorkers as a winter storm continues to move through the state. The Governor also surveyed damage from the storm in Far Rockaway. Governor Hochul declared a statewide State of Emergency ahead of the winter storm, which went into effect at 6 a.m. on Friday. Governor Hochul advised New Yorkers planning to travel to reconsider as road conditions remain icy and dangerous across the state.

I just completed a very chilly, can I say the least, tour of part of Far Rockway to assess the damage that was occurring here as a result of flooding. Upwards of three feet of water rushed through the streets, damaged some of the homes. We had a chance to speak to some of the homeowners about the stresses they're under and working on the cleanup as well. So, I wanted to come and just talk to some of the locals and also our elected officials who have been great partners in this effort, as they always are, but particularly when their constituents need assistance, they know who to call, and that's why I'm here today.

I do want to, first of all, thank Congressman Greg Meeks, who was on the tour with us for helping us with any assistance. We're going to meet with FEMA. Statewide, we need all the voices of our delegation to help get through this storm. It has different impacts throughout the State of New York, and I'll be getting to that in a couple of minutes, but thank you, Congressman Greg Meeks. Borough President Donovan Richards is here, again, someone who has been hands-on dealing with disasters since our first days working together. Very experienced in what has been happening in his beloved Borough of Queens, especially as we deal with the wrath of Mother Nature. So, thank you, Borough President Donald Richards.

So, I'll be giving a statewide storm assessment, an update, but let's just talk about where we walked through. We saw on the Bayside when the bulkheads were compromised, once again, we know we needed assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild them. They've been damaged since Sandy and the State of New York and the City of New York are certainly going to be helping that effort to protect the neighbors from the water rushing out of the bay and flooding the streets.

So, that was something we saw firsthand. And also, knowing that the freezing temperature, the water literally froze and created something that was reminiscent of a skating pond or an ice-skating rink. And it's very, very dangerous, especially for our senior citizens as they try to venture out. Walking on that ice and even driving on that ice is incredibly dangerous. So we're going to be making sure that people understand that.

We also want – Kathryn Garcia will be giving some more updates, but our transportation systems are working well. We had some stoppages on the trains yesterday, delays at the airports, but the airports are open. The subways, the trains are all functioning, which is quite miraculous given the severity of what this area went through just a short time ago.

The bone-chilling cold continues to be a problem. It compromises the safety of all individuals, particularly our vulnerable seniors. People are in their homes without heat in some places of our state. It's been a real challenge for us. So there is not one place in the State of New York where the temperature is above zero as far as the real-feel temperature. That's what it feels like on your skin. And so, this may be an historic event in that respect alone that every part of New York is suffering the effects of this Arctic Chill that continues to stay over our state.

Also, if anyone else needs any assistance, we would encourage them to call 311. Commissioner Iscol will be talking about the resources available here as well.

I will now turn to what is happening in Western New York for those of you who want an update on my hometown. Last night, I had to bring in the National Guard. The conditions, the blinding snow, the zero visibility, absolute whiteouts, it may go down as one of the worst in history. People are comparing this to the dreaded blizzard of ‘77, where Buffalo first got its reputation for having an unprecedented amount of snow. We broke that record again a month ago.

So it's very clear to me that the effects of climate change are wreaking havoc everywhere from the streets of Queens with flooding, all the way up to the City of Buffalo.

But it is life-threatening, what is going on as we speak in Buffalo. Getting calls through the night from frightened neighbors where the temperature's been off for many, many hours – over the course of a day, day and a half. And we still have, statewide, about 73,000 homes without power concentrating about 33,000 of those in Erie County, about 7,000 in Niagara County, about 5,000 in Genesee County.

So that seems to be the epicenter of this storm that just doesn't seem to be moving on. It is concentrated there. And so the National Guard had to come in to help with medical emergencies, people who cannot get to the hospital if necessary, to help doctors and nurses get to their jobs in hospitals and health care facilities, as well as helping our seniors who are stranded.

So we have had people stranded on the highways. I understand that the New York State Thruway, which remains closed in the Western part of the region, we had over 20 people stranded in a very small stretch up until just a short time ago, as well as several hundred who've been stranded on various roads throughout the region.

What happens in those circumstances? People literally trapped in their cars overnight. Fortunately, our State Police were able to make contact with every single individual, and we literally had snowplows going up to the vehicles and rescuing people, taking them out, and getting them into warming centers because it is absolutely dangerous for anyone to be on the roads – and that includes our emergency vehicles. So our National Guard, our first responders, our ambulances, our fire trucks are all getting stuck in the snow as well. In fact, almost every fire truck in the City of Buffalo is stranded, it is stuck in snow. And we're just getting through releasing of about 14 or so ambulances that were stuck as well.

So you can imagine what's going on here. People who need help are being trapped because they cannot get the emergency response because it's unsafe to be out there. So we have search and rescue operations continuing throughout the region. And the basic message is, we're going to continue to keep warming centers open, encourage people to stay home. Roads are closed throughout Western New York and will be, probably through Christmas Day.

And it's really sad for all the individuals who have not been able to see family members – airport delays, and not able to be driving because of driving bans. But it is more important that people stay safe. You'll have your holiday with your loved ones over New Year's and into the next year. But this is a weekend where it is absolutely dangerous in some parts of our state, particularly the Western part, to be out there. So we want to encourage people to stay where they are.

In addition to having a statewide Emergency Declaration, I'll be asking the federal government for a Declaration of Emergency that’ll allow us to seek reimbursements for the extraordinary expenses of all the overtime and the fact that we've brought in mutual aid from other parts of the state. We've deployed individuals, whether it's the utility crews have come, but also making sure that we have all the vehicles we need. But literally, they cannot get through right now, no matter how many emergency vehicles we have, they just can't get through the conditions as we speak.

So that is what's happening in other parts of the state. At this point, I'll be asking Kathryn Garcia, the Head of Statewide Operations who's been embedded with all of us in our command centers monitoring what's going on throughout the state.

But I did want to put a special spotlight right now on the City of New York. It got through some tough circumstances, with the high winds, the ice, the freezing cold. And it is still a dangerous situation. We want to confirm that just because you see clear skies and the rain has stopped and the flooding seems to have abated, that it is still vulnerable because of the icy cold temperatures which can be life-threatening.

So with that, Kathryn Garcia, let's have a report from you.

With that, I just received word of two announcements related to Buffalo. The Buffalo Airport will be closed at least until 11:00 a.m. Monday, and so I think that's going to be, unfortunately, very disruptive to those who wanted to leave or arrive and spend time with family over the Christmas holiday.

And also, the roads are not safe. So I would just say, as hard as it is, be sure to make your holiday plans for another time if you're not already united with your family because Mother Nature threw the kitchen sink at us this time. I said she throws everything but the kitchen sink, I'm fully expecting to see the kitchen sink fall out of the sky because we've been hit with everything, from wind and flash freeze, and unprecedented high velocity of wind at almost 80 miles an hour in Buffalo and other parts of the state, very high numbers, as well as the snow, ice, flooding.

So it's been a very tough one. But we have the most experienced storm team in America – the team that supports me, and I also want to thank the Commissioner of OEM from the city for all the incredible work the city does.

I've been in contact with Mayor Adams as well, making sure that we know all the issues that we wanted to address and that's what we have. Also, the loss of two lives in Buffalo, storm related, because people are not able to get to medical attention, which is, again, a crisis situation that unfolds before your eyes. And you realize that life-saving ambulances and emergency medical personnel cannot get to people during a blizzard situation.

Attorney General James Joins Multistate Coalition to Support Common Sense Gun Safety Efforts

 

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to Decide Whether Governments Can Prohibit Possession of Guns With Obliterated Serial Numbers

New York Attorney General Letitia James joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting federal efforts to ban the possession of firearms whose serial numbers have been removed. The brief, filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, urges the court to overturn a ruling from a federal judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia that a federal statute prohibiting possession of a gun whose serial number has been removed is unconstitutional. The brief, filed in United States v. Price, asserts that banning the possession of firearms with obliterated serial numbers is consistent with the laws of 42 States and the District of Columbia and is constitutional. 

“Serial numbers are common-sense tools to track dangerous weapons and help keep guns out of the hands of bad actors,” said Attorney General James. “Declaring this gun safety measure unconstitutional could have dangerous impacts on the vast majority of American states, including here in New York. I am proud to stand with my fellow attorneys general in this bipartisan effort to protect American lives. So long as I am Attorney General, my office will always push for gun safety measures and efforts to remove weapons of war from New York communities.”

The amicus brief argues that the court should reverse the decision below and uphold the constitutionality of a federal criminal statute banning the possession of firearms whose serial numbers have been removed. An overwhelming majority of jurisdictions in the United States prohibit removing serial numbers or possessing weapons whose serial numbers have been removed. As the coalition of attorneys general notes, serial numbers are vital to tracing the origin and owner of a firearm used in the commission of a crime, which is crucial information used by law enforcement officials. The coalition also argues that the Second Amendment does not protect the right to possess a gun with an obliterated serial number, as the removal of a serial number is a clear indicator that a gun has been illegally trafficked and is being used or possessed for unlawful means. 

Joining this bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in support of gun safety laws is part of Attorney General James’ ongoing efforts to protect New Yorkers from gun violence. Earlier this month, Attorney General James helped take down a dangerous ghost gun trafficking ring in coordination with the NY Drug Enforcement Task Force. Last month, Attorney General James cracked down on online ammunition sellers illegally shipping ammunition to New York. In June, Attorney General James sued 10 national gun distributors for illegally selling and bringing ghost gun parts into New York. In July 2020, Attorney General James ensured that 17 websites which manufacture and sell firearms or firearms components ceased selling nearly complete assault weapons into New York state. In February 2021, Attorney General James led a coalition of 21 attorneys general supporting states’ efforts to enforce laws against a company disseminating 3D-printed gun files on the internet. Additionally, through her successful gun buyback program, Attorney General James has been able to remove over 3,800 guns from New York communities since 2019.

Joining Attorney General James in filing today’s brief are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. 

BRONX RIVER ART CENTER - SEASON GREETINGS 2022

 

Wishing you a Creative Holiday Season

From all of us at

Bronx River Art Center

Image: BRAC student, Collage Workshop Class. BRAC Archives. Bronx River Art Center, BRAC, would like to wish all of our students, friends, and families a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year. As we reflect on this past year, we have much to celebrate and are excited about what is to come for 2023.  BRAC continues with its mission to advance the arts and art education in our community. This year BRAC welcomed new teaching artists for our course offerings in ceramics, digital photography, and multimedia production. We continued evolving our signature Teen Project Studio (TPS+2.0), and provided local high schools with programs for their students in our visual arts and ceramics studios as well as in our digital media lab. BRAC’s 2022 season also showcased new exhibitions featuring works by local, national, and international artists, hosted music, theater, film, and performance presentations with a variety of themes and addressing diverse creative communities.  With 2023 upon us, we will be back in action right after the holidays with our classes, exhibitions, and presenting programs, which, with your help, will be bigger and better than ever. Please remember BRAC in your End-of-Year giving to help us make for a fruitful new year.   DONATION We look forward to seeing you back in January for our winter classes (January 17th - April 3rd), REGISTRATION for WINTER 2023. Download Schedule OR at our upcoming exhibition opening of “Scaling Nature" on January 19th. Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year ! Visit our Website Registration is open for WINTER 2023 ART CLASSES! Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Cartooning, Printmaking, Digital Art & Design, Digital Photography, Digital Animation, Classes run for 10 sessions January 17th - April 3rd Visit Education Page Register on Eventbrite Most classes will be held on-site at the Bronx River Art Center, with sessions taking place within our well-ventilated open space studios.   All persons ages 7 or over must show proof of vaccination. Proof of vaccination will be required upon entering building for first class. For general questions about classes, please email education@bronxriverart.org. Bronx River Art Center, Inc   1087 East Tremont Ave, PO Box 5002, Bronx, NY 10460

Michael Brady, Third Avenue Business Improvement District - An Honest Holiday Message

Dear Friends, Colleagues, and District Businesses: Each morning for the past 7 years I have walked the South Bronx.  I begin on Bruckner Boulevard and end at the northern end of the District on 153rd Street and Third Avenue.  Typically, I am making notes on storefront vacancies, incidences of graffiti, malfunctioning street lights, sidewalk conditions, and visiting shop owners on the way to our office. This morning was different. This morning I was walking behind a mother and son on their way to school and overheard a powerful message that resonated with the purpose of our organization, my personal work ethic, and the spirit of the holiday season.  The son was asking why his mother is always fixing things - taking care of people on the street, picking up litter, or repairing things when they are broken.  The mother's response was simple and powerful. "Son, I learned a long time ago that we don't have to wait for other people to make things better.  If something is broken we can fix it ourselves.  We don't need to wait or ask for permission to make things better for our community." This statement reminded me of why I got into the important work of community. Nearly 20 years ago, I started my work in the South Bronx, living in an old rectory at St. Augustine's Parish on 167th Street and Franklin Avenue doing community organizing and working to save local schools and churches from closure. At that time - as I am sure many would still agree - I was controversial. To quote a former nun commenting on my then very public argument with Cardinal Egan, "Mr. Brady's personality is electric, he seeks forgiveness instead of permission, and is moved by faith to get things done." I say this not to prop myself up, but rather because over these many years, I have forgotten that lesson. I forgot about the power of community - or more likely, I have grown complacent and decided to work within systems and structures and politics to ask for permission and support to get things done.  I lost my figurative "mojo" for the sake of going with the flow and working within establishment systems.  And that is an error on my part that I will be remedying in 2023. You see, that mother and son, reminded me of why we do our work.  We do it, not in the spirit of waiting or asking for permission, but we do it for community - for each other. That message is how I have guided Third Avenue Business Improvement District over the past many years, and how I hope it will continue.  It is very easy to become hyper focused on the negative - on the barriers or challenges - but in this season of hope, this season where light triumphs over darkness, let us focus on recommitting our efforts to authentically build community.  It is not in waiting for other people to do the work for us, or waiting for permission, or for funding - but in standing shoulder to shoulder and getting the work done for the greater good of each other and our City. My goal: To block the noise and gossip and fear mongering from our ears and to remain focused on getting the work done. I have been privileged to serve our neighborhoods and double down on my commitment to do better in creating a path forward for the Bronx and New York City. On behalf of the entire team and our Board Directors, I invite you to join me in not waiting to make our neighborhoods better - but to act. Have a Happy Holiday and blessed Christmas! Sincerely, Michael Brady Third Avenue Business Improvement District

 

NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi Earns Prestigious Surgical Quality Designation from the American College of Surgeons

 

ACS Surgical Quality Partner hospitals adhere to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality

NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi's Chief Executive Officer Christopher Mastromano announced that the facility had been named a Surgical Quality Partner by the American College of Surgeons (ACS). The designation means that Jacobi has met the highest standards of surgical care by minimizing complications, improving outcomes, and saving lives.

 

"Jacobi is widely known in the Bronx as the Level 1 Trauma Center for our region," said Mr. Mastromano, "What this ACS designation means is that Jacobi is providing the highest possible level of surgical care."

Mr. Mastromano congratulated the Jacobi Surgical Department, led by Dr. John McNelis, for their hard work in achieving this distinction.

 

"This is a huge honor for Jacobi," said Dr. McNelis. "This certification identifies Jacobi as one of 25 hospitals internationally and one of only three in New York State that can meet these requirements."

ACS measures facilities in how they credential and train their medical staff, measure quality improvements and collect data. Jacobi received special commendations for their Surgical and OB-GYN departments.

For more than 100 years, ACS Quality programs have enhanced the care of surgical patients. Participation in these programs shows that a hospital is committed to surgical quality and has met rigorous external standards confirmed by an outside verification process.

 

"ACS Quality programs are grounded in a century of experience and are an important measure of a hospital's surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi has shown a commitment to three things. We provide the best possible patient care, rigorously evaluating that care, and dedicating themselves to continual self-improvement," said ACS Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS.

"Being an ACS Surgical Quality Partner means a hospital is truly dedicated to continuous improvement by using data and ACS standards and resources to deliver the best possible care," said Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, FACS, FASCRS, Director, ACS Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care.

ABOUT NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi

NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region’s only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi’s Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information visit http://www.nyc.gov/hhc/jacobi/.

Riverdale Y Menorah Lighting

 

Wednesday Afternoon Congressman Ritchie Torres, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and Councilman Eric Dinowitz gathered with Rabbi Saadia Pewzner of the Bronx Jewish Center to light the menorah on the stage of the Riverdale Y. 

Melissa Sigmond Chief Executive Officer of the Riverdale Y welcomed everyone, and students from the  Kinneret Day School sang Chanukah songs before the candles on the menorah were lit. 

Riverdale Y CEO Melissa Sigmond welcomes everyone to her first Chanukah at the Riverdale Y.

Students from the Kinneret Day School sing a Chanukah song.

Neely redistricted to Riverdale Congressman Ritchie Torres spoke about his recent trip to Israel.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson also spoke about the trip to Israel she city council members and Congressman Torres took. 

Councilman Eric Dinowitz was one of the city council members who also went on the trip to Israel.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz not a city council member did not go to Israel, but said someone had to stay home to get stuff done.

Congressman Ritchie Torres, Councilman Eric Dinowitz, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson are joined by Rabbi Saadia Pewzner of the Bronx Jewish Center of Pelham Parkway who lit the Chanukah candles.

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez - What's Happening in District 13

Dear Neighbor,

Over this past month, we’ve had the opportunity to celebrate the holidays throughout the community. This weekend, many of you will celebrate Christmas, a day filled with family and gratitude. This is such a joyous time of year, and I’m so glad to have shared so much holiday cheer with you all. I hope that each of you has the opportunity to spend the holidays with your loved ones, which is the best gifts of all.

Over the weekend, many of you will be continuing the celebration of Hanukkah, while others will begin preparing for Kwanzaa early next week. Regardless of what holiday you and your family celebrate, I wish you have a warm holiday filled with love, family, and gratitude. Through the rich diversity of our community, there is much to be grateful for and to embrace.

Beginning today, Friday, December 23rd, my district office will be closed and will reopen on Tuesday, January 3rd. My office will be working remotely during this time, and will continue providing regular updates across our social media channels. If you have any questions or require assistance, please don’t hesitate to call us at (718) 931-1721 or email us at District13@council.nyc.gov.

It has been a pleasure working with you all this year, and I wish you all a joyous and safe holiday season.

Sincerely,

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez

HOLIDAY INFORMATION

DSNY Holiday Collection In observance of the Christmas holiday, there will be no collection on the observed holiday, Monday, December 26.  Residents who receive trash or compost collection may  place their material out at the curbside between 4 AM and  midnight on Monday, for collection beginning on Tuesday,  December 27. Residents who receive Monday recycling  collection should hold their material for the next  collection day, which will be Tuesday, January 3.