MAYOR ADAMS, NYCHA ANNOUNCE BRONX RIVER ADDITION AS NEXT DEVELOPMENT TO DECIDE ITS FUTURE

Residents Will Decide on Whether to Enter Public Housing Preservation Trust, Permanent Affordability Commitment Together Program, or Remain Section 9 Housing 

100-Day Engagement Period Will Be Followed by 30 Days of Voting Overseen by Independent Third-Party Voting Administrator 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt today announced that Bronx River Addition will become the second development to hold an official vote to give residents a say in the future of their homes. The voting process — first launched at Nostrand Houses in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn — will provide residents with an opportunity to decide on whether the development should enter the Public Housing Preservation Trust or join the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program, both of which leverage alternative funding streams available through the federal government. Residents can also choose for their development to maintain the traditional public housing financing model and remain Section 9 housing.

 

Following 100 days of public engagement, a 30-day voting period is expected to run from March 13 to April 11, 2024 — during which time residents may vote online or by mail, or in person during the last 10 days of the voting period. A qualified, independent, third-party administrator will conduct and oversee the election.

 

“As someone who grew up on the edge of homelessness, I know how important it is to have access to affordable and reliable housing,” said Mayor Adams. “From the start of this administration, we have worked to help NYCHA residents have a seat at the table and a say in the future of their homes. We are thrilled that Bronx River Addition will follow in Nostrand Houses’ footsteps to cast ballots in this historic voting process, and I urge all residents to make their voices heard.”

 

“Our administration is thrilled to offer Bronx River Addition residents the opportunity to vote on a comprehensive plan to renovate and modernize their homes,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “This is an important decision that will impact families living in NYCHA for generations, and their voices must always be heard. Over the next 100 days, we look forward to hearing directly from residents about which path is right for them.”

 

“Following the vote at Nostrand, residents of Bronx River Addition will now have their own opportunity to weigh in on the future of their campus through this important and groundbreaking process,” said NYCHA CEO Bova-Hiatt. “Every day, we see the impacts that decades of federal disinvestment have had on public housing developments across the portfolio. We are pleased that, through this voting process, residents will be able to decide how to address the vast and growing needs of their buildings.”

 

Home to 146 residents from 133 households, Bronx River Addition has an estimated 20-year capital need of $66 million and has dealt with several severe infrastructure issues in recent years that have caused tenants to be relocated in one of its two buildings. NYCHA estimates needing nearly $80 billion for repairs across its portfolio.

 

The New York City Public Housing Preservation Trust is a public entity established by Mayor Adams and NYCHA in May 2023 and authorized by a law signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul last year following extensive advocacy from the Adams administration and NYCHA. A fully public entity, the Trust is expected to unlock billions of dollars in federal funding for comprehensive renovations at NYCHA developments to improve living conditions for residents. Under the Trust, a development is kept 100 percent public and converted to the more stable, federally funded Project-Based Section 8 program, while ensuring residents always maintain their rights, including permanently affordable rent.

 

The PACT program similarly transitions developments from traditional Section 9 assistance to Project-Based Section 8 and unlocks funding for designated third-party PACT partners to complete comprehensive repairs.

 

Since the creation of the Trust last year, Mayor Adams and NYCHA have taken a series of steps to establish a board and release official voting procedures, which were finalized after receiving more than 300 comments from members of the public last fall. Residents of Bronx River Addition, including those who relocated from one of the two buildings who meet all other voting criteria, will be able to participate in the vote. Residents are eligible to vote if they are 18 years or older and part of the household composition. Participation from a minimum threshold of 20 percent of all heads of household is required for a vote to be considered valid and binding. The independent voting administrator will conduct the vote and certify the results. Once the 30-day voting period has ended, votes will be tallied and announced. 

 

“By giving residents at Bronx River Addition the ability to vote on their future is incredibly empowering and gives residents agency over their homes,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Finding ways to support public housing is critically important, and I am pleased that Mayor Adams and NYCHA are looking at new ways to empower our residents. I am optimistic that programs like this can be expanded to provide other NYCHA tenants with a say in the future of their communities. Thank you to Mayor Adams, NYCHA CEO Bova-Hiatt, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer, Bronx River Tenants Association President Norma Saunders, and all those involved in advancing this housing policy and bringing it to Bronx River Addition.”

 

"It's a new day for Bronx River Addition (senior buildings)," said Norma Saunders, president, Bronx River and Bronx River Addition Resident Association. "We have had our share of challenges, but finally, not only are we getting the attention we need and deserve, but the ability to choose the way forward for our homes is in our hands. The residents will be the ones guiding the future of Bronx River Addition."

 

Former U.S. Ambassador and National Security Council Official Charged with Secretly Acting as an Agent of the Cuban Government

 

Federal prosecutors have charged Victor Manuel Rocha, 73, of Miami, Florida, a former U.S. Department of State employee who served on the National Security Council from 1994 to 1995 and ultimately as U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia from 2000 to 2002, with committing multiple federal crimes by secretly acting for decades as an agent of the government of the Republic of Cuba.

“This action exposes one of the highest-reaching and longest-lasting infiltrations of the United States government by a foreign agent,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We allege that for over 40 years, Victor Manuel Rocha served as an agent of the Cuban government and sought out and obtained positions within the United States government that would provide him with access to non-public information and the ability to affect U.S. foreign policy. Those who have the privilege of serving in the government of the United States are given an enormous amount of trust by the public we serve. To betray that trust by falsely pledging loyalty to the United States while serving a foreign power is a crime that will be met with the full force of the Justice Department.”

“Like all federal officials, U.S. diplomats swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Acting as an agent for Cuba – a hostile foreign power – is a blatant violation of that oath and betrays the trust of the American people,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI will continue to rigorously defend against foreign governments targeting America, and we will find and hold accountable anyone who violates their oath to the United States, no matter how long it takes.”

“For decades, Rocha allegedly worked as a covert agent for Cuba and abused his position of trust in the U.S. government to advance the interests of a foreign power,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “However long it might take, we will deliver justice to those who betray their solemn oaths to the American people.”

“The Southern District and our law enforcement partners stand ready to protect the United States from individuals who act unlawfully as agents of foreign governments,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Individuals who violate federal law by engaging in clandestine activity for hostile foreign states, and by providing false information about those activities to the U.S. government, endanger American democracy. That is especially so for past or present employees of the United States who took an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution, and for U.S. citizens who benefit from the freedoms and opportunities of this country. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners in South Florida, and elsewhere, will continue to vigorously enforce all federal laws.”

According to the complaint, beginning no later than approximately 1981, and continuing to the present, Rocha, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Colombia, secretly supported the Republic of Cuba and its clandestine intelligence-gathering mission against the United States by serving as a covert agent of Cuba’s General Directorate of Intelligence.

To further that role, according to the complaint, Rocha obtained employment in the U.S. Department of State between 1981 and 2002, in positions that provided him access to nonpublic information, including classified information, and the ability to affect U.S. foreign policy. After his State Department employment ended, Rocha engaged in other acts intended to support Cuba’s intelligence services. From in or around 2006 until in or around 2012, Rocha was an advisor to the Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, a joint command of the United States military whose area of responsibility includes Cuba.

The complaint alleges that Rocha kept his status as a Cuban agent secret in order to protect himself and others and to allow himself the opportunity to engage in additional clandestine activity. Rocha provided false and misleading information to the United States to maintain his secret mission; traveled outside the United States to meet with Cuban intelligence operatives; and made false and misleading statements to obtain travel documents.

According to the complaint, Rocha began his State Department career in 1981, rising through the ranks to serve in a variety of roles, including (1) from in or around February 1989 until in or around November 1991, as the First Secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico; (2) from in or around November 1991 until in or around July 1994, as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; (3) from in or around July 1994 until in or around July 1995, as a Department of State employee, as the Director of Inter-American Affairs on the U.S. National Security Council, with special responsibility for, among other things, Cuba; (4) from in or around July 1995 until in or around July 1997, as Deputy Principal Officer at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba; (5) from in or around July 1997 until in or around November 1999, as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and (6) from in or around November 1999 until in or around August 2002, as Ambassador to Bolivia at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia.

The complaint alleges that, in a series of meetings during 2022 and 2023, with an undercover agent from the FBI posing as a covert Cuban General Directorate of Intelligence representative, Rocha made repeated statements admitting his “decades” of work for Cuba, spanning “40 years.” When the undercover told Rocha he was “a covert representative here in Miami” whose mission was “to contact you, introduce myself as your new contact, and establish a new communication plan,” Rocha answered “Yes,” and proceeded to engage in a lengthy conversation during which he described and celebrated his activity as a Cuban intelligence agent. Throughout the meetings, Rocha behaved as a Cuban agent, consistently referring to the United States as “the enemy,” and using the term “we” to describe himself and Cuba. Rocha additionally praised Fidel Castro as the “Comandante,” and referred to his contacts in Cuban intelligence as his “Compañeros” (comrades) and to the Cuban intelligence services as the “Dirección.” Rocha described his work as a Cuban agent as “a grand slam.”

Rocha is charged with conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General; acting as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General; and with using a passport obtained by false statement. He is expected to make an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Miami today, Dec. 4.

The FBI Miami Field Office is investigating the case, with valuable contributions by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the FBI’s Washington Field Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan D. Stratton and John C. Shipley of the Southern District of Florida, along with Trial Attorneys Heather M. Schmidt and Christine A. Bonomo of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. 

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

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Westchester Felon Charged With Distributing Fentanyl That Killed A Man And Illegally Possessing Ammunition

 

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Robert Noble, Chief of the Yorktown Police Department, announced that PERRY FREEMAN was charged today with distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a victim and illegally possessing ammunition.  FREEMAN was arrested and presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.  

 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Perry Freeman sold fentanyl to a victim who died a horrific death shortly after taking the drugs.  Investigators concluded that the victim parked his car and, with his foot on the gas, passed out from ingesting lethal levels of the drugs allegedly provided by Freeman.  The engine sparked a fire that engulfed the vehicle and burned the victim’s body.  We also allege that Freeman regularly sold fentanyl to a confidential informant and warned the informant to be careful with the drugs, indicating he knew how unsafe his product was.  This Office will not rest until those who peddle this poison have been brought to justice.” 

DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said: “Data doesn’t lie, and law enforcement continues to track fatal fentanyl poisonings to the person responsible.  This arrest is an example of DEA and our law enforcement partners’ efforts to thwart more drug poisonings and bring to justice those responsible for causing the most harm to our communities.  I commend the men and women of the Yorktown Police Department, the DEA’s Westchester Resident Office’s Tactical Diversion Squad, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their tenacious work on this investigation.” 

Yorktown Police Chief Robert Noble said: “It is good for our community to see their local police department request assistance from federal agencies like the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and have it culminate with the arrest of an alleged dangerous drug dealer.  I commend the determination, intelligence, and teamwork demonstrated throughout this investigation.  Yorktown is a law and order community.  We’ll continue to work hard, share information, and work shoulder to shoulder on our streets with all of our partners in law enforcement to keep it that way.”

As alleged in the Complaint:[1]

On or about November 10, 2021, FREEMAN sold fentanyl to his victim.  Shortly thereafter, the police responded to a report of a burning car in a parking lot in Mohegan Lake, New York, approximately a three-minute drive from FREEMAN’s apartment building.  They found a Ford Focus on fire; the victim was in the driver’s seat with his foot on the accelerator pedal.  After the fire department put the fire out, the victim, declared dead, was pulled out.  Investigators determined that the car caught on fire after overheating while the accelerator pedal was depressed for an excessive period and the car was in park, i.e., while the victim was passed out in the driver’s seat with his foot on the pedal.

The Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office, which is part of the Westchester Department of Laboratories and Research, performed an autopsy on the victim.  According to a report prepared by the Department of Laboratories and Research, as well as a conversation between a law enforcement officer and a member of the Medical Examiner’s office, the victim had lethal levels of both fentanyl and norfentanyl, a metabolite of fentanyl, in his blood and there was some darkening of his lungs, which indicated smoke inhalation before his death.  Moreover, the victim’s cause of death was certified as both acute fentanyl intoxication and accident.

FREEMAN, 37, of Mohegan Lake, New York, is charged with one count of fentanyl distribution resulting in death, which carries a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. 

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

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the DEA and the Yorktown Police Department.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.

Assemblymember John Zaccaro - District 80 Community Update - HOLIDAY EDITION!

Friends and Neighbors,

 

As we celebrate the joy of the holiday season and partake in the numerous events taking place throughout our district, I’m hoping that you also remember our neighbors in need. 

 

We kicked off the holiday season with our Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway. I am so grateful to our community partners who helped make this year's turkey giveaway an enormous success. I am proud to say that our office handed out more than 2,000 turkeys which were given away at community events at Tracey Towers, Scott Towers, Brady Court, R.A.I.N. Boston Senior Center, Bronx House, Parkside Senior Center, Pelham Parkways Houses, Zimmerman Playground, Parkside Houses, Allerton Allies Fridge, Allerton Coops, as well as all of the community associations who partnered with us and helped hand out Thanksgiving turkeys throughout our community.

 

Everyday should be about giving back to the community. It is not just how much we give but also how much love we put into giving. For this Thanksgiving holiday we have worked hard to make sure that families throughout our district receive turkeys and have a meal on their table. It is essential that no family suffers from a lack of food especially in days of celebration. 

 

None of this would have been possible without our colleagues and community partners. Thank you to all of you for your much appreciated contributions. 

 

 

Start 2024 with a new job!

On December 2nd we saw more than 100 residents join us for a job fair that connected city, state, and private employers with members of our community. As we continue to wrestle out of tough economic times, we are so proud to partner with the Dept. of Labor to help those in our community. 

 

 

Looking Towards The Future:

As 2023 comes to a close, I am reminded of the dedication our community has to one another and that our work is far from over.  In just over a month, I will be heading back to Albany for the 2024 legislative session where I will continue to echo your voices and fight for our community. There is much work to be done and I plan to stand side-by-side with you in these fights to ensure that our community is provided every opportunity to flourish. 

 

The only way I can do it is with your help.

 

I urge you to contact our community office with your ideas, issues, and concerns because we're a TEAM.  

 

PHONE: 718-409-0109

EMAIL: district80@nyassembly.gov

 

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Community Winter Coat Drive:

Turkey Giveaways are also a reminder that far too many in our community are faced with the prospect of not having appropriate clothing for the winter months. That's why throughout the month of December, my office will serve as a drop off location for a winter coat drive.  If you have winter coats that you no longer wear, my office will make certain that they’re distributed to those in need.  

 

Community Toy Drive: 

We know that everyone wants to create a holiday to remember for their family, but it's not always easy to.  To help, our office is also holding a toy drive.  As you shop for the perfect gifts for your loved ones, please consider purchasing a small gift for a child whose parents may not be able to afford one.  

 

I am proud to announce that on November 17th, 2023 Governor Hochul signed my bill A7692 into law, directly impacting licensed cannabis dispensaries in the City of New York. 

 

Recently Introduced Bills 

Following the poisoning of several infants due to their exposure to fentanyl illegally stored at a Bronx day care, which tragically resulted in the death of a one-year old boy I introduced A8237. This bill would require at least one employee at each type of day care center in New York be trained to administer Narcan, which can reverse an opioid-induced overdose in an emergency. 

I believe that expanding the availability of this lifesaving medicine furthers our shared goal to prevent opioid overdoses in New York and protect our most vulnerable members of society. 

I also introduced A8051A that would authorize and permit appearance enhancement licensees to apply dye to eyelash and eyebrow hair, a popular service licensees are unable to provide. Appearance enhancement licensees are highly trained professionals licensed to engage in the practice of natural hair styling, esthetics, nail specialty, cosmetology or waxing. 

The bill, named “Sabria's law,” in recognition of a New York City-based hair stylist and salon owner named Sabria will establish rules and regulations for practice and operations that will ensure clients are afforded the best service possible.

A8260 – This bill imposes an excise tax on the gross receipts of the sales of firearms, major components of firearms and ammunition and establishes the gun violence prevention and school safety fund.

A8266 – Requires banks to report annually on the amount of revenue earned from overdraft fees, prohibits banks from imposing overdraft fees during a ten day grace period and regulates the imposition of overdraft and non-sufficient fees.

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Clean Slate Act Signed into Law

On November 16th, the Clean Slate Act that I proudly co-sponsored was signed into law, providing a pathway to automatically seal the records for over 2 million New Yorkers with certain criminal convictions who have remained law abiding members of society following the completion of their sentence. 

Our criminal justice system rightly holds people accountable who have committed crimes. We must also foster their reentry back into society to improve their chance of living a productive life. I have seen firsthand far too many social and economic impediments that prevent individuals convicted of a crime from moving forward with their lives, a cycle we must break. 

I want to thank my colleagues in the Assembly Majority, especially Assemblymember Catalina Cruz for championing this important bill in the People's House and to all advocates who made their voices heard.

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Recently Co-Sponsored Bills 

A1710A – This bill provides for minimum wage requirements for miscellaneous industry workers.

A3306 – Prohibits the use of reverse location and reverse keyword searches. 

A3353 – Establishes the “Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act," which prevents the displacement of lower-income tenants and preserves affordable housing by providing an opportunity for tenants to own or remain renters in properties where they reside. 

A8021 – Enacts the “New York emergency expedited temporary permit act” to allow asylum seekers to apply for and be granted temporary work permits while their federal immigration status is being determined. 

A7666A – The purpose of this bill, known as the "Cannabis Adult-Use Transition Act," is to increase safe and legal retail access for New York consumers while the State continues to move toward the full implementation of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. 

A7389 – This bill extends the benefits of the variable supplements fund for transit police members of the New York City employees retirement system. 

A8052 – Requires sellers of limited use motorcycles to have purchasers proof of registration of such vehicles at the time of purchase.

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Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Grant 

In 2022, there were 959 reported hate crimes across New York State – a record amount for a calendar year according to the Division of Criminal Justice Services. This shocking statistic is a sad, yet sobering reminder of the reality that many marginalized and vulnerable people and institutions face. This must change.  

The Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes (SCAHC) Grant was established in 2017 to strengthen security measures and prevent hate crimes. As the threat landscape expanded so too does the Grant's mandate, which now includes funding for cybersecurity measures to prevent hate crimes. $139.8 million has been awarded to fund over 2,700 projects across New York since the SCAHC Grant began. 

The SCAHC application process will begin in the coming weeks and additional eligibility information will be made available. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this Grant further please contact our Albany office at 518-455-5844.

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Final Thoughts 

Finally, I want to remind everyone to be mindful of your neighbors in the weeks ahead, particularly the elderly, and check-in on them from time to time.  

Governor Hochul Announces Start of Project to Modernize Ogdensburg International Airport

 

Expanded Terminal Lobby, New Entrance Canopy and Other Improvements Will Improve Passenger Experience and Fuel Regional Economic Growth

Project Awarded $18 Million From the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition

Renderings Available Here

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that work is underway on a project to transform the Ogdensburg International Airport into a regional transportation hub that will attract new travelers to the area and fuel economic growth throughout the North Country. The project, which was awarded $18 million from the Governor’s $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition, will expand the check-in, ticketing and baggage drop off areas; construct a new canopy over the curbside drop-off/pick-up area, install new passenger information display systems and make other improvements to enhance the passenger experience and create a state-of-the-art gateway for the entire region. A new, multi-purpose great room will also be created to provide much-needed community space for civic gatherings, conferences, business meetings and other public events.

“Our upstate airports are gateways that not only welcome travelers but also open the door to increased tourism and expanded opportunities for economic growth,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Thanks to our Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Initiative, the Ogdensburg International Airport will get the improvements it needs to become a true, 21st Century travel destination that will attract new visitors and businesses to the North Country.”

Constructed in 1980, the Ogdensburg International Airport’s terminal handled as many as 26,921 enplanements a year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but the facility lacks adequate space to comfortably handle the current passenger flow or accommodate the expected levels of growth in the coming years. The project, which has a total estimated cost of $21.5 million and is expected to create 195 jobs, will provide a comprehensive renovation of the terminal building to create a multi-purpose facility that better serves passengers and air carriers, and attracts new visitors and businesses to the region. Improvements include:

• Expansion of lobby for check-in, ticketing, and baggage drop
• Additional restrooms
• Expansion of the screening, concession and baggage claim areas
• Upgraded security doors and sprinklers
• Upgraded WiFi for passenger benefit
• New sanitation and water fill stations
• Upgraded disinfection treatment within the HVAC system
• An extended entrance canopy with an elongated curbside drop-off/pick-up area
• An outdoor courtyard with tables, chairs, and planters
• Solar panels and electrical passenger vehicle/equipment charging stations

The Ogdensburg International Airport was one of nine upstate airports awarded a total of $230 million in the latest round of the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition funding announced by Governor Hochul last year with conceptual renderings. The awards are intended to promote, revitalize and accelerate investments in upstate commercial passenger service airports, helping to create airports for the 21st century.

The Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition is administered by the New York State Department of Transportation and was open to upstate commercial passenger service airports and airports providing specialized service for commercial aircraft and/or corporate jets. Applicants were encouraged to apply for funding a single project or a program of projects to help meet the demands of the 21st century. Projects submitted for review by eligible airports were evaluated based on established criteria, including but not limited to innovation in design, passenger amenities and experience, operational efficiencies, and economic effectiveness for the airport's region. Work on the Ogdensburg airport is expected to be completed by the spring of 2025.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Memo to the CB 11 Parks Committee Chairperson: This project is costing $18 million dollars because there are additional restrooms being put in.