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Monday, May 11, 2026
Riverdale Block Party Festival - ONE WEEK AWAY!
New Yorkers for Parks - 🌼Celebrating another year of daffodil blooms🌼
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We’re so grateful to everyone who participated in the 2025 Daffodil Project!
Every year thousands of New Yorkers blanket our city in joyful yellow blooms during this historic volunteer effort and living memorial. It’s a chance for neighbors to connect, steward the shared spaces that build community, and advocate for a more vibrant parks system.
If this initiative means something to you, consider making a gift to support NY4P.
This fall marks the Daffodil Project's 25th anniversary! If you're receiving this email, you're on our mailing list and we'll keep you in the loop about registration in August and bulb distributions in the fall.
Warmly,
Team NY4P
Sunday, May 10, 2026
THIS IS OUR WHY: DHS Honors Angel Moms on Mother’s Day
This Mother’s Day, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) honors mothers, children, and spouses forever changed by violent crimes committed by illegal aliens who should have never been in our country.
After having been shuttered under the Biden Administration, the Trump Administration relaunched the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office (VOICE) to serve as a resource for victims and their families, providing direct access to alien custody information, victim services, and guidance.
As families across the nation observe Mother’s Day, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recognizes the courage of mothers who advocate for loved ones lost to violent crime — a powerful reminder of the lasting impact on families and communities.
“He had a great sense of humor and beautiful eyes that lit up a room,” said Maureen Maloney, remembering her son, Matthew Denice, 23, who was killed by a drunk driving illegal alien on August 20, 2011, in the sanctuary state of Massachusetts. “When he was in high school, he was voted as ‘most dependable.’ Everyone loved him. He was the kind of guy that would go to parties, pick people up and drop them back off at home. He cared deeply for people. People always say ‘the happiest day of my life was…’ but I’ll never get to say that ever again in life, since the moment my son was taken from me.”
Matthew Denice
“Even though she was tiny, she had a BIG influence,” said Patty Morin, whose daughter, Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, was murdered on a trail in the sanctuary state of Maryland on August 6, 2023, by a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador with gang ties. “She was such a happy, joyous person. There has been such a loud silence because of her absence.”
Rachel Morin
“Kayla loved her mommy; loved animals, especially her cat Oreo; cared about the homeless; treasured her family and friends; loved God and going to church; was very forgiving and would make sure nobody was left out and made sure the loneliest kid had a friend,” said Tammy Nobles, whose daughter, Kayla Hamilton, 20, was murdered in her Maryland home on July 27, 2022, by a criminal illegal alien and MS-13 gang member from El Salvador. “The pain of losing Kayla hits your soul. It changes you as a person and as you see the world. Our grief is forever. We have to live with the void of not having her here. Her murderer got 70 years and I got life.”
Kayla Hamilton
The VOICE Office was founded to help mothers like these and others affected by crimes linked to illegal immigration; it uses a victim-centered approach to provide them with information and services. Over the past year, the VOICE Office fielded nearly 900 calls — each representing a person seeking help amid trauma with a nexus to immigration.
According to ICE data from that same period:
- 87% of callers were victims or members of victims’ families.
- 25% of callers requested victim services or referrals.
- Callers identified 815 total crimes linked to immigration violations.
- 62% of callers sought case status information or updates regarding offenders in custody.
The crimes reported by callers included some of the most serious offenses investigated by law enforcement agencies nationwide:
- 32% reported violent assault.
- 15% reported rape or sexual assault.
- 9% reported homicide or manslaughter.
- 7% reported family or partner violence.
- 6% reported stalking or intimidation.
The VOICE Office cuts through complexity, offering clarity and access to:
- Offender custody information.
- Guidance on enforcement and removal.
- Referrals to victim assistance resources.
- Registration for the DHS Victim Information Notification Exchange.
- Support from trained personnel.
Surviving victims and families often face emotional, legal, and logistical challenges long after a crime occurs. The VOICE Office helps ensure victims get through that process.
ICE encourages victims, family members, advocates, and witnesses seeking assistance to contact the VOICE Office toll-free hotline at 855-48-VOICE (855-488-6423), available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
You can find additional information about available services and victim resources at ICE.gov/VOICE.
Governor Hochul Directs New York State Landmarks to Be Illuminated Blue in Recognition of National Police Week
Sixteen State Landmarks To Be Lit Blue on Evening of Sunday, May 10
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that 16 landmarks across New York State will be illuminated blue this evening, Sunday May 10 in recognition of National Police Week to honor the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers across New York State and the nation.
“During National Police Week, we honor the brave men and women who put their lives on the line each day to protect our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “We also remember the officers who sacrificed their lives in service to others and the selfless actions taken to protect New Yorkers. New York is grateful for the courage, commitment and dedication of law enforcement officers across our state.”
The following landmarks will be illuminated blue tonight:
- One World Trade Center
- Albany International Airport Gateway
- Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
- Empire State Plaza
- Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
- Grand Central Terminal - Pershing Square Viaduct
- Kosciuszko Bridge
- Lake Placid Olympic Center
- Moynihan Train Hall
- MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station
- Niagara Falls
- State Education Building
- State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
- The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
- The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
- Roosevelt Island Lighthouse
National Police Week, observed this year from Sunday, May 10 through Saturday, May 16, recognizes the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers and pays tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “National Police Week is a solemn reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment demonstrated every day by law enforcement officers across our state and nation. We honor the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others, and we recognize the dedication of the men and women who continue to protect our communities with professionalism, integrity, and compassion. On behalf of the New York State Police, we extend our deepest gratitude to all members of law enforcement and their families for their service and sacrifice.”
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “National Police Week is an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary dedication of the law enforcement professionals who work every day to keep New Yorkers safe. We also honor the memory of the officers who gave their lives in service to their communities and stand with the families, friends and colleagues who continue to carry their legacy forward.”
The state recently hosted its annual Police Officers Memorial Remembrance Ceremony at the Empire State Plaza, where Governor Hochul honored 56 officers whose names were added to the New York State Police Officers Memorial.
Permits Filed for 521 East 132nd Street in Port Morris, The Bronx
Permits have been filed for a 14-story residential building at 521 East 132nd Street in Port Morris, The Bronx. Located between St. Ann’s Avenue and Brook Avenue, the lot is near the Brook Avenue subway station, served by the 6 train. Anshel Fridman of Artist Construction LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.
The proposed 145-foot-tall development will yield 194,886 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 99 residences, with a total 297 units on the site. Residences will most likely be rentals based on the average unit scope of 656 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar, a 37-foot-long rear yard, and 17 enclosed parking spaces.
Shmuel Wieder of S. Wieder Architect is listed as the architect of record.
Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.
ICE Asks Indiana to Not Release Illegal Alien Serial Rapist
This sexual predator from Mexico was released into our country by the Biden Administration
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer asking Indiana officials to not release an illegal alien serial rapist.
On April 22, 2026, police in Indianapolis arrested Leonel Catalan Torreblanca, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who is the suspect in a decade-long serial rape case and now faces 30 charges including rape, sexual battery, criminal confinement, kidnapping, strangulation, and burglary. His criminal history includes convictions for patronizing a prostitute, voyeurism, and multiple DUIs.
The reported sexual assaults occurred between 2013 and 2024.
“Thanks to the incredible work of the men and women of federal law enforcement, this demented rapist’s ten-year crime spree is over. He is now facing 30 charges including rape, sexual battery, criminal confinement, kidnapping, strangulation, and burglary,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “ICE is asking Indiana officials to hand him over to ICE custody. Indiana cooperates with ICE, so we will be able to work together to get him off our streets and out of our country. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, criminal illegal aliens are NOT welcome in the United States.”
Torreblanca first illegally entered the United States at an unknown time and location. ICE arrested him in 2012, but he was released by the Obama Administration. ICE arrested him again in 2017, and he voluntarily returned to Mexico in 2018. He then illegally re-entered the United States – a felony – in 2023 under the Biden Administration.
Jacksonville Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More than Eleven Years in Federal Prison
James Herbert Asberry, III (39, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl and methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of $18,938, the proceeds of Asberry’s drug trafficking, which were seized at the time of his arrest. Asberry pleaded guilty on July 17, 2024. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, during a series of meetings in late 2023 and early 2024, Asberry sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) undercover task force officer and confidential source. On February 23, 2024, the DEA arrested Asberry and law enforcement executed search warrants both at his home in St. Johns County and at a Jacksonville apartment where Asberry stored drugs. Investigators located $18,938 in cash, as well as cocaine, fentanyl, and nearly two kilograms of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
Nos Quedamos - Who Decides the Future of Melrose?
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MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
The Future of Melrose Is Being Decided Now
For more than 30 years, the Melrose Urban Renewal Plan has stood as one of the most powerful examples of what happens when a community leads its own future.
It is more than policy.
It is more than zoning.
It is a legacy of people power.
This plan has shaped Melrose into what it is today, protecting deeply affordable housing, preserving open space, and ensuring that development happens with the community, not to it.
But that legacy is now on a clock.
In just seven years, the Melrose Urban Renewal Plan is set to expire.
That may sound far away, but in the world of development, policy, and land use, seven years is not a long time. In fact, we are already seeing the pressure. Even with the Plan still in place, market forces are pushing in. They are testing the limits, looking for opportunities, and preparing for what comes next.
We have to be clear about what that means:
If we do nothing, the protections that have held this community together for decades can disappear.
Without the Plan:
• There are fewer limits on what can be built and where
• There is less protection for affordable housing
• There are fewer guarantees that residents will have a voice
And when those protections weaken, displacement follows. Culture erodes. Community control is lost.
If we don’t define the future of Melrose, someone else will and it won’t be with us in mind.
That is why we are acting now.
At Nos Quedamos, we are launching a long-term effort to not only protect what exists, but to build on it. Through our Melrose 2034: From Preservation to Power campaign, we are strategizing a dual district strategy that combines zoning protections with cultural recognition locking in both the physical and cultural fabric of this neighborhood.
But policy alone is not enough.
The strength of the Melrose Urban Renewal Plan has always come from the people behind it. That is why we are doubling down on organizing and working alongside residents in our developments and the broader Melrose community to build the collective power needed to shape what comes next.
We are also pushing for the resources required to make preservation real. Fighting for funding to stabilize distressed buildings, protect affordability, and hold public systems accountable.
This moment is not just about preventing loss.
It requires action, participation, and a shared commitment to carry this legacy forward.
Because this plan was never just about buildings.
It was about people.
And that is what we must continue to protect.
Interested in learning more about how we are doing this work? Reach out to us at info@nosquedamos.org and stay tuned to our IG
Youth Voices, Big Impact, Coming Your Way!
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Make sure you mark our calendars because our youth are doing it again. Our 3rd annual youth symposium, Nosotros Somos la Voz - We are the Voice, is set for June 5th, from 2 pm - 6 pm at the Metropolitan College of New York (463 E 149th St, Bronx, NY 10455). You’ll hear from our amazing youth organizers sharing reflections on their experience doing community organizing, getting to participate in interactive workshops, and more!
Interested in saving your spot? Fill out the RSVP link HERE
Nos Quedamos Inc. | 754 Melrose Avenue | Bronx, NY 10451
Governor Hochul Grants Clemency to Nineteen Individuals
Continues to Fulfill Commitment to Grant Clemency on a Rolling Basis
Builds on Governor’s Efforts to Reform Clemency Process, Including Convening an Advisory Panel of Impartial Experts, Dedicating Additional Staff Resources and Increasing Communication with Applicants
Since Taking Office, Governor Hochul Has Issued a Total of 139 Grants of Clemency
Governor Kathy Hochul granted clemency in the form of a pardon to 19 individuals. This action recognizes people who have demonstrated remorse, exemplified rehabilitation and displayed a commitment to improving themselves and their communities. After implementing procedural reforms to strengthen the clemency process, Governor Hochul has made a total of 139 grants of clemency during her time in office, which include 119 pardons and 20 commutations.
“Since taking office, my administration has taken a number of steps to bring more effective, fair, and thorough analysis to New York’s clemency program,” Governor Hochul said. “After careful consideration and analysis by a panel of independent experts, I am granting clemency in the form of a pardon to 19 individuals who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, and have made positive changes in themselves and their communities.”
The Governor's Office has taken a number of steps to improve transparency and communication in the clemency process. The Executive Clemency Bureau has implemented a policy of sending regular letters to individuals with clemency applications, informing them of their case status, and providing information about how to submit supplemental information in support of their applications. The Governor's Office also launched an updated online web hub to assist clemency applicants with the application process; this hub includes template clemency application forms to provide prospective applicants with improved guidance about what information to include when they apply.
The Governor also convened a Clemency Advisory Panel composed of impartial experts to assist in advising the Governor on clemency applications. Following recommendations from the Clemency Advisory Panel, Governor Hochul is granting clemency in the form of a pardon to 19 individuals.
Pardons
Individuals receiving a pardon today have lived crime-free lives for a significant period of time — in most cases for over 20 years — and have made positive contributions to their communities. All pardon recipients continue to be negatively impacted by their criminal conviction(s) despite having successfully served their sentence(s) many years ago. The Governor’s pardons will help alleviate these burdens.
Dr. Mikal Abdul-Mateen, 75, was convicted of Attempted Robbery in the Third Degree in 1971.
Joseph Percoco, 65, was convicted of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree in 1985.
Scot Forte, 61, was convicted of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree in 1985.
Courtney Brown, 58, was convicted of two counts of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree in 1988.
Delroy Mott, 69, was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Narcotic Drug in the Fourth Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree in 1991 and 1990.
Marco Baez, 63, was convicted of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, and Attempted Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree between 1986 - 1991.
Elvin Peña, 63, was convicted of Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree in 1991.
Daniel Wagoner, 49, was convicted of Criminally Negligent Homicide in 1995.
Adalberto Bueno, 69, was convicted of Assault in the Third Degree and Attempted Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree in 1990 and 1996.
Jeremy Niland, 49, was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Loaded Firearm in the Third Degree in 1997.
Tiffany Wright, 47, was convicted of Petit Larceny and Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Third Degree in 1998 and 2002.
Antonio Domingues, 56, was convicted of Offering a False Instrument to File in the Second Degree in 2002.
Kobi Moshel, 44, was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree in 2003.
Paul De Guzman, 44, was convicted of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree between 2003 - 2006.
Luigi Morgera, 44, was convicted of Attempted Arson in the Third Degree in 2008.
Amanda Mullen, 37, was convicted of Forgery in the Second Degree and Identity Theft in the First Degree in 2010.
Michael Thomas, 51, was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree in 2010.
Edwin Tineo, 36, was convicted of Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree, original conviction occurred in 2013.
Adrian Peña, 35, was convicted of Burglary in the Third Degree in 2015.
Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against State of New Mexico and City of Albuquerque for Obstructing Federal Immigration Enforcement
The United States has filed a complaint and motion for preliminary injunction against the State of New Mexico, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, the City of Albuquerque, and Albuquerque Mayor Timothy Keller, alleging that the implementation of House Bill 9 (HB9), entitled the “Immigrant Safety Act,” and Albuquerque City Ordinance O-26-15, entitled the “Safer Community Places Ordinance (SCPO),” infringes on federal immigration enforcement authority.
Through HB9, the State of New Mexico is trying to abolish decades of long-standing, voluntary partnerships between local governments and federal authorities that are essential for enforcing immigration laws and keeping the federal immigration system running as Congress intended. Both HB9 and the SCPO seek to block federal agents from using any local government property to carry out their work. Additionally, by unlawfully requiring private businesses to tip off illegal aliens about immigration enforcement activities, the SCPO attempts to harbor and shield illegal aliens from detection by federal immigration authorities and poses an obstacle to the enforcement of federal immigration law.
“New Mexico is attempting to regulate immigration policy, something the federal government is clearly and uniquely empowered by the Constitution to do,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Our filings seek to halt the state’s unconstitutional actions by preserving cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement and allowing federal immigration officials to enforce the law.”
“The State of New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque seek to intentionally obstruct federal law enforcement by preventing cooperation between local governments and the federal government,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. “HB9 and the SCPO unlawfully interfere with federal immigration enforcement, illegally discriminate against federal operations, and violate constitutional protections regarding contracts and federal supremacy. Additionally, by barring public entities from participating in federal immigration detention in New Mexico, HB9 jeopardizes nearly 300 jobs and the economy of Otero County. Our lawsuit asks the court to declare these laws invalid and issue an immediate injunction to stop them from being enforced.”
Upon taking office, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border to address a security and public safety crisis caused by previous Open Border policies. On February 5, 2025, the Attorney General instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal immigration laws or impede lawful federal immigration operations. On August 5, 2025, the Attorney General published a list of sanctuary jurisdictions, which included Albuquerque, and vowed to bring litigation to end these policies nationwide. Today’s lawsuit in New Mexico is the latest in a series of lawsuits targeting illegal sanctuary jurisdiction policies across the country.
Under President Trump’s mandate, the federal government is exercising its proper constitutional authority to remove criminal aliens from the United States. Central to this mission are long-standing, voluntary agreements between federal and local agencies that allow state and local officials to assist with the investigation, transportation, and detention of illegal aliens. The federal government relies heavily on these partnerships, which have operated successfully in New Mexico for decades, to fulfill its immigration enforcement duties and keep New Mexicans safe.
The case is United States v. State of New Mexico et al., No. 1:26-cv-01471 in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.
The claims asserted by the United States are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.