MAYOR ADAMS LEADS JEWISH, MUSLIM, AND CHRISTIAN FAITH AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN DISCUSSION TO TACKLE HATE ACROSS FIVE BOROUGHS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams yesterday convened a meeting with Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith and community leaders in the wake of a recent spike in hate crimes across both the Jewish and Muslim communities since October 7, 2023 — when Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israeli civilians. In the five weeks since the attacks, tensions have risen across NewYork City and the rest of the globe, unfortunately leading to a rise in hate crimes in certain communities. Mayor Adams brought these leaders together yesterday to discuss how to fight hate within the five boroughs and how New Yorkers can work together to create a safer, more accepting New York.

 

“There is no place for hate in our city and we need all of our houses of worship to come together in this moment and talk about how we bring light into the darkness that we are all experiencing,” said Mayor Adams. “This is a very painful moment we are all going through, and I don’t have all the answers, which is why hearing from our faith leaders is so crucial. I’m hoping this circle of dialogue and mutual respect continues to grow as we navigate all that is happening across our planet. I firmly believe that what plays out in the international arena mirrors what plays out on the streets of New York City because we are such an international community. Our biggest strength is our diversity, but lately, I have seen that strength slipping away. I am proud we are showing not only the country, but the globe, that even in these difficult moments we are still able to lean into the strength of our diversity.”

 

“It is important to come together in good times, but it is even more important to come together in a challenging moment,” said Imam Shamsi Ali, Jamaica Muslim Center. “As home to some of the most diverse communities, New York City has the privilege to bring us together. Despite our differences, we always find a way to be united. In fact, we must be aware that we may agree to disagree without being disagreeable. We are one, New York!”

 

“We as leaders must demonstrate that there can be a unity of spirit as well as diversity of thought,” said Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, New York Board of Rabbis. “We can share different beliefs, but we must show our young people that we belong to one human family.”

 

“Engagement, service, and conversation are essential to co-existing,” said Shahriar Rahman, president, Bhalo. “Putting geopolitics aside, we need to focus and emphasize on community growth and inter-community bonding. The meeting yesterday is a start to a long recovery and building process between many communities.”

 

“We appreciate the leadership of Mayor Adams and his team who convened our faith leaders to discuss pathways that will build tolerance and understanding during this challenging time,” said Hindy Poupko, senior vice president, community and external relations, UJA Federation of New York.

 

“It was a constructive meeting with several actionable results,” said Mohammad Razvi, CEO, Council of People’s Organization (COPO). “COPO does a weekly food distribution with volunteers of many backgrounds. We will immediately begin a volunteers’ dialogue prior to starting each of our distributions.”

 

“Hatzalah is grateful for the mayor’s leadership in bringing groups like this together to better understand each other and learn how to live as good neighbors,” said Yechiel Kalish, CEO, Hatzalah. “By clearly communicating our shared values openly and honestly under the guidance of leaders like Mayor Adams we can continue to make New York the best city in the world.”

 

“As an Imam, we are under one creator,” said Imam Muhammad Shahid Ullah, president, Islamic TV. “My faith teaches me to live together, work together, and stay together. My message is very clear as a faith leader: There should be no hate in New York City.”

 

“Beautiful meeting with our Muslim, Jewish, and Christian community leaders to combat hate,” said Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov, Kehilat Sephardim. “No one is born hating. You are taught to hate.”

 

Following yesterday’s meeting, the group of Jewish and Muslim faith and community leaders plan to schedule a follow-up meeting to pursue both short-term and long-term actionable items discussed.

 

Joining Mayor Adams and administration officials at yesterday’s meeting were the following faith and community leaders:

• Imam Shamsi Ali, Jamaica Muslim Center
• Sheikh Musa Drammeh, Muslim community activist
• Doughlas Jablon, Maimonides
• Rabbi Yechiel Kalish, Hatzalah
• Bob Kaplan, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)
• Marian Soltz- Loike, Touro University
• Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov, Kehilat Sephardim
• Avi Posnick, Stand With Us
• Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, New York Board of Rabbis
• Hindy Poupko, UJA Federation
• Shahriar Rahman, Bhalo
• Raja Azad Gul, Raja Community Center
• Mohamed Razvi, Council of Peoples Organization
• Imam Shahid Ullah, Islamic TV
• Adrienne Shamie, Sephardic community leader
• Joe Shamie, Sephardic community leader
• Imam Ahmed Ali Uzir, IQRA Masjid Community & Tradition
• Archpriest Rev. Thomas P. Zain Vicar, St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral
• Dovi Zeitlin, Yeshiva Chaim Berlin

DEC Encourages Statewide Participation in 'New York Recycles Day'

 

Annual Recycles Day Raises Awareness of Recycling's Benefits

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today encouraged all New Yorkers to celebrate Wednesday, Nov. 15, as ‘New York Recycles Day.’ New York Recycles Day highlights the importance of recycling and best practices to keep waste out of landfills. New York's efforts complement America Recycles Day, a national initiative to raise awareness of the economic, environmental, and social benefits of recycling. 

"New York Recycles Day is an opportunity for all New Yorkers to commit or recommit to the core principles of reduce, re-use, and recycle,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Sustainable materials management and recycling help keep communities clean, safeguard our shared environment, reduce the greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, and lessen the waste disposal burden on New York’s municipalities. Today and every day, DEC encourages all New Yorkers to learn more about the benefits of recycling and what we all can do to protect our natural resources for future generations.” 

By recycling at home, at work, and in public, people of all ages can have a positive impact on the environment. Across the state, individuals, community groups, businesses, schools, and government agencies celebrate ‘New York Recycles Day’ in a variety of ways, including encouraging others to reduce waste, pledging to start an office or school recycling program, hosting a reuse exchange, or improving awareness of local recycling requirements. These efforts help inform New Yorkers about the advantages of waste reduction and recycling. DEC’s website offers tips on ways to support ‘New York Recycles Day’, and additional information about how to participate in this annual event is available at the Keep America Beautiful America Recycles Day website. 

New York State has a long history of implementing many of the nation's strongest recycling initiatives, including the Solid Waste Management Act. The act promotes local and State efforts to promote and implement actions to reduce, reuse, and recycle, inspiring local source-separation programs across the state which helps to divert millions of tons of recyclable materials from disposal resulting in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, energy usage, and the use of natural resources. 

Over more than three decades, the State has invested over $250 million in funding for waste reduction and recycling programs funded through the State's Environmental Protection Fund to support municipal waste reduction and recycling programs by funding recycling infrastructure, equipment, collection vehicles, local education and outreach programs, and local recycling coordinator salaries.  

This year, the draft New York State Solid Waste Management Plan: Building the Circular Economy Through Sustainable Materials Management (Plan) was released. With a goal to protect communities and mitigate the effects of climate change, this Plan builds upon sustained efforts to reduce waste and advance the state's transition to a circular economy, helping to change New Yorkers' understanding of waste and their relationship to it. The Plan intends to guide actions over the next decade, and builds upon the State's 2010 Beyond Waste Plan to help achieve goals of reducing waste and increasing recycling across the economy.

 

Additional programs to encourage waste diversion in New York State include:

• extended producer responsibility programs to manage electronic equipment;
• safe mercury thermostat and pharmaceutical disposal options;
• encouragement to use rechargeable batteries;
• product stewardship programs to collect used paint; and
• bottle and can recycling through New York’s longstanding bottle bill program.

 

Reduction of single-use items makes local recycling programs more effective by removing these hard-to-recycle items from the recycling stream. New York State’s Bag Waste Reduction Act prohibits the distribution of plastic carryout bags from most stores and encourages reusable bags while a statewide ban on expanded polystyrene (foam) for food service containers and packing peanuts, reduces litter and removes much of this material from the waste stream.  

 

The principles of reduction, reuse, and recycling also extend to organic materials. The New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling law requires businesses and institutions that produce two tons of wasted food per week or more to donate excess edible food and to recycle all remaining food scraps if they are within 25 miles of an organics recycling facility. DEC’s partnership with Feeding New York State and regional food banks resulted in more than five million extra pounds of food being donated to hungry New Yorkers, while reducing waste and climate-altering emissions caused by landfilling. 

 

In 2026, the Carpet Collection Program Law program will require carpet producers to fund a carpet collection and recycling program at no cost to New York State consumers. The law will also require new carpet to be manufactured with increasing post-consumer recycled material and without harmful PFAS substances.  

 

New York State also partners with several of the state’s finest research institutions to help tackle the most pressing recycling challenges. In collaboration with the State University of New York (SUNY University at Buffalo, Alfred, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and Stony Brook University, DEC is working to increase the recyclability of glass, paper, and plastics and to boost public awareness of best practices for reduction, reuse, and recycling. 

 

How New Yorkers Can Help ‘Recycle Right’ 

To decrease contamination in recyclables and increase the marketability of those recyclables, DEC encourages all New Yorkers to ‘Recycle Right.’ Try Recycle Right NY’s Recyclopedia to learn what materials might be recyclable. Each community has specific recycling rules and all New Yorkers should check with their municipality or waste hauler on the types of paper, metal, plastic, and glass items that can be recycled. Recyclables have the best market value when they are clean and dry before being placed in the collection bin.   

 

Tips to Recycle Right: 

• Keep recyclable items loose in the bin; do not bag recyclables in plastic bags (unless required by your municipality or waste hauler);
• Do not recycle single-use cups and plates, condiment packages, coffee pods, stirrers, straws, paper napkins; plastic cutlery (unless specifically accepted by your local recycling program or recycling hauler);
• Return rechargeable batteries to retail recycling locations;
• Compost at home or send yard trimmings and food scraps to a local or municipal composting program;
• Donate dishware, mirrors, glassware, and ceramics if in good condition;
• Donate textiles --even if they’re no longer wearable or useable, as long as they are clean, they can be recycled;
• Do not put any type of rope, hose, or twine into your recycling bin; and
• Return needles to appropriate collection locations. Visit DEC's Household Sharps webpage for more information.

 

DEC urges the public to "know before you throw," as contamination in the recycling supply chain reduces the quality of recyclable materials. For more information contact a local recycling coordinator or visit Recycle Right NY. 

Eleven Individuals Involved in International Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Organization Indicted

 

Defendants Allegedly Distributed Fentanyl and Other Deadly Drugs Across the Ohio Valley

Federal, state, local, and Italian law enforcement officials today announced that 11 individuals were charged for their roles in an international drug trafficking conspiracy that involved the importation of fentanyl, synthetic opioids, and synthetic cannabinoids into the United States, and the distribution of those drugs in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, and elsewhere domestically. Several charged defendants were arrested earlier this morning and transported to federal court in Cleveland, while the others are in custody elsewhere, including Italy.

“As alleged in today’s indictment, the defendants orchestrated an international conspiracy to peddle fentanyl and other deadly drugs across the Ohio Valley, with complete disregard for the lives of their victims,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Alongside our law enforcement partners across the country and around the world, the Justice Department will relentlessly pursue all those who seek to profit from poisoning Americans – including when they try to exploit international boundaries and digital currencies to disguise their illicit trade.”

“From the confines of the Ohio Penitentiary, Brian Lumbus led an international and interstate drug trafficking organization that brought fentanyl and other, more potent synthetic drugs from overseas factories to the streets of our region,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Several others, both in the United States and outside it, acted in concert with Lumbus to do what he physically could not: obtain, assemble, and repackage those drugs, then mail or deliver them to other conspirators for further distribution. As this indictment reflects, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue its collaborative efforts with federal, state, local, and international partners to identify, target, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations, whether the suppliers of such poisons are in the Northern District of Ohio or a continent away. I thank our partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Ohio Department of Public Safety, and the Italian government for their tireless efforts to identify and apprehend significant players in the illegal drug trade.”

“Brian Lumbus led an elaborate drug trafficking network that imported dangerous synthetic drugs and other substances from foreign-based suppliers to then distribute to customers throughout the region,” said Special Agent in Charge Orville Greene of the DEA Detroit Field Division. “The outstanding assistance and support DEA received from our foreign and domestic counterparts led to the successful apprehension of Lumbus and his co-conspirators. Today’s actions send a clear message that law enforcement will work locally, and even across international borders, to seek justice against criminal organizations."

The following defendants are charged in the 34-count indictment:

• Brian Lumbus Jr., aka B, 43, of Cleveland;
• Giancarlo Miserotti, aka Karl, 51, of Italy;
• Brianna Lumbus, 22, of Cleveland;
• Kayla S. Goudlock, 25, of North Royalton, Ohio;
• Jennifer Robinson, 38, of Tennessee;
• Latasha Harris, 40, of Toledo, Ohio;
• Dominique Hammond, 37, of Pittsburgh;
• Wanda Ward, 46, of Johnson City, Tennessee;
• Marchello Lumbus, aka Chello, 42, of Cleveland;
• Jessica Cochran, 28, of Lorain, Ohio; and
• Braisia Lumbus, 23, of Cleveland.

The defendants were all charged in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Additionally, six defendants were charged with substantive possession with intent to distribute controlled substances offenses. Nine defendants were charged with interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and eight were charged in an international money laundering conspiracy. Finally, nine of the defendants were charged with using a communications facility to facilitate a felony drug offense.

According to the indictment, between as early as April 28, 2016, and continuing through Nov. 1 of this year, the defendants did knowingly and intentionally conspire with each other to distribute and possess with the intention to distribute mixtures and substances containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance; as well as Isotonitazene, Metonitazene, Alpha-PiHP, and ADB-BUTINACA, all Schedule I synthetic opioid or cannabinoid controlled substances.

While incarcerated in an Ohio state prison, Brian Lumbus Jr. orchestrated the operation, ordering significant quantities of these drugs from Giancarlo Miserotti, an Italian citizen and resident. Miserotti arranged for kilogram quantities of these controlled substances to be exported from several foreign countries first to Italy, then to the United States, for redistribution by conspiracy members. Investigators with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction discovered evidence of the criminal activity of this group in the institution and they immediately alerted the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the DEA for further investigation. It was determined that U.S.-based conspirators received the foreign shipments, cut and mixed the drugs, and redistributed them. Other members of the conspiracy used Bitcoin cryptocurrency to pay Miserotti for the drugs.

If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The DEA, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Egan and Robert J. Kolansky for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Recidivist Cocaine Trafficker Convicted Of Sending Hundreds Of Kilograms Of Cocaine Hidden Inside Furniture

 

Omar Lopez Castro, Previously Convicted of Large-Scale Cocaine Trafficking in the Southern District of New York, Participated in a Conspiracy That Sent Tons of Cocaine from Puerto Rico Around the United States

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the conviction in Manhattan federal court of OMAR LOPEZ CASTRO for his participation in a cocaine trafficking scheme between 2018 and 2022.  The jury convicted LOPEZ CASTRO following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel.  Sentencing of LOPEZ CASTRO is scheduled for February 22, 2024 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The unanimous jury verdict holds Omar Lopez Castro accountable for his leadership role in a widespread cocaine trafficking organization that flooded the streets with hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine.  After serving a 10-year sentence for a prior SDNY cocaine trafficking conviction, Lopez Castro returned to trafficking hundreds of kilograms of his cocaine, this time hidden inside of furniture.  He now faces the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence for his crime.” 

According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment and the evidence presented in court during the trial: 

LOPEZ CASTRO was a member of a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) that engaged in a cocaine-trafficking scheme between 2018 and 2022 involving the concealment of cocaine inside custom-built furniture.  Between in or about September 2018 and October 2022, the DTO sent more than 30 shipments of cargo from Puerto Rico to the continental United States.  The cocaine was concealed in more than approximately 80 custom cube-shaped coffee tables or other furniture.  While the organization falsely represented that the cargo contained furniture, that furniture in fact concealed hundred-kilogram quantities of cocaine.  During the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 350 kilograms of cocaine from four of the DTO’s shipments.  In total, the DTO shipped approximately 4,500 kilograms of cocaine, worth at least $135,000,000 on the street.  Many of the organization’s shipments were sent to addresses in the Southern District of New York including in Yonkers and the Bronx.  Others were sent up and down the East Coast.

LOPEZ CASTRO was a Puerto Rico-based member of the DTO who owned approximately 274 kilograms of cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Soon after his release from federal prison from a prior conviction in the Southern District of New York for trafficking cocaine from Puerto Rico to New York, LOPEZ CASTRO connected with other members of the DTO and hired the DTO members to ship his cocaine inside of custom-built furniture.  All told, the street value of cocaine that LOPEZ CASTRO owned and trafficked was more than $8 million.

LOPEZ CASTRO, 48, of Carolina, Puerto Rico, was found guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute narcotics, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations in this investigation. 

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Juliana N. Murray and Andrew Jones, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Jacqueline Hauck and Sabrina Jim Munoz, are in charge of the prosecution.

Statement From Governor Kathy Hochul on Amtrak Service

 

"Thousands of New Yorkers rely on Amtrak service for their daily commute or long-distance travel. I'm outraged that service between Albany and New York City has been suspended for so long, especially as we approach some of the busiest travel days of the year during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. While we know it can be difficult to repair aging infrastructure, a delay of this length is unacceptable.

"Today I will be deploying senior leaders of my Administration, including from the Department of Transportation, Division of Homeland Security Services and Emergency Services, and my Director of State Operations and Infrastructure, to join New York City and Amtrak officials for a visit to the site that is causing these problems and determine a path forward. We need to help New Yorkers get back on track."